BENGALURU: With the aim of resolving the long-pending Arkavathy issue, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had called a meeting with BDA and BWSSB officials at his official residence Krishna on Friday. BDA will now provide alternative sites at Kempegowda Layout to the applicants of Arkavathy Layout, who failed to get sites and have been struggling for the last 10-12 years. Around 1,700 to 1,800 applicants will be given alternative sites.
Post meeting, K Venkatesh, Chairman of the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) told Express, “We want to finish the issue as soon as possible. This has been going on for a long time now.
There is no land in Arkavathy Layout and that is the fact. But we have enough land in KG Layout even after giving away 5,000 sites. In fact, we have called these applicants on several occasions and explained the problems and gave them various options. We will be sending letters to these applicants soon.” About 300 acres of land in Arkavathy is under litigation.
The proposal to provide alternative land at KG Layout has been put forth time and again. However, applicants have not been happy about it. Their contention is that the sites at KG Layout are valued around `2,500 per sq feet whereas the value of sites in Arkavathy Layout as of now, is around `6,000 per sq feet. They argue that they will have to undergo huge loss to take the alternative site in KG Layout. Meanwhile, BDA is expecting an income of `1,000 crore from K G Layout.
The meeting also witnessed elaborate discussion on implementation of UGD pipelines in old and new areas by BWSSB. The UGD pipelines had to be laid by BWSSB in some areas like Banshankari 6th Stage and Extension, Anjanapura Extension, Arkavathy Layout on payment of the estimated amount of `556 crore by BDA.
Kemparamaiah, Chief Engineer, BWSSB said, “So far BDA has deposited `159 crore. The balance `359 crore has to be paid to BWSSB to continue with the work. The matter was discussed and they will be making one-fourth payment of the balance amount now. Remaining amount will be paid in installments.”
BDA officials have asked BWSSB to continue the work and payment will be made in the meantime.