BENGALURU: In a joint survey conducted by the Joint Director of Land Records of the Bengaluru Urban district, it was found that 12.5 acres of Madavara Lake bed along the National Highway-4 has been encroached by the government itself and some private parties, including Jindal Naturecure Institute.
It has been stated by the Land Records officials that, out of 12.5 acres encroachment of lakebed, 10.33 acres were encroached by private parties and 1.12 acres by the government for allotment of sites under Ashraya Scheme.
In response to the direction dated February 9, 2018 issued by Lokayukta P Vishwanatha Shetty, K Jayaprakash, Joint Director of Land Records, filed a joint survey sketch of four villages — Madavara village, Chikkabidarakallu village, Tirumalapura village and Doddabidarakallu village.
The survey was conducted in the presence of the representatives of Jindal Institute and others concerned who allegedly encroached the Madavara lake.
Referring the encroachment, the Lokayukta Justice P Vishwanatha Shetty directed the Deputy Commissioner of Bengaluru Urban to take steps to remove encroachment. The Lokayukta, however, gave liberty to the DC to clear the encroachment of land for Ashraya Scheme, after taking measures to rehabilitate the poor families accommodated there. This should be done after evicting all other unauthorised occupants, he said.
“The officers of the state are required to be vigilant at all time. The Land Revenue Act casts an obligation on the revenue authorities to evict the unauthorised occupants of the government property. It is not only applies to the encroachment of Madavara lake but it will also apply to the encroachment of all lakes and lake beds in State”, Lokayukta said in the order.