BANGALORE: The state government on Thursday told the High Court that it has managed to recover around 10,000 acres of public land which had been encroached.
A division bench headed by Chief Justice D H Waghela was hearing a public interest petition filed by Namma Bengaluru Foundation.
The government said it managed to regain 10,000 acres in the last 20 days alone. The bench acknowledged the progress, but said the state needs to expedite the process.
Senior counsel Sajan Poovayya, who was appointed amicus curiae in the case, said many encroachments have been cleared in districts like Mandya, Chitradurga, Bellary and Haveri, but the condition remains bad in Bangalore, where just 16 acres have been cleared.
Notice from HC
The High Court on Thursday issued a notice to the government while hearing a petition challenging the directions of the Department of Food and Civil Supplies, restricting disbursement of foodgrains to BPL card holders who have failed to furnish details of their EPIC and UID cards. The court was hearing the petition by the Dalit Sangharsha Samiti contending that the order is discriminatory and against government policy.