Karnataka: Home minister KJ George says govt can’t ignore encroachments, assures bill to protect weaker sections

Bengaluru: Under pressure from the opposition parties, Home minister, K. J. George on Tuesday asserted that the state government was mulling bringing a Bill to protect the rights of economically weaker sections including those who have lost sites during the ongoing demolition drive in city.

Mr George emphasised that the state government did not want to protect land grabbers but was rather contemplating invoking provisions of the Goonda Act against such people. Speaking to reporters at Vidhana Soudha here, he said, “The ongoing demolition drive is carried out based on the Apex Court’s order, but on humanitarian grounds, we would also like to bring a bill to protect the rights of the poor who have lost the roofs over their heads. We are still in the process of finalising the content of the bill as it should not infringe on the Apex Court’s verdict.”

According to him, any fight against land grabbers of late has been making headlines as several noted personalities were taking part in the movement to save government land from encroachers. “Reports submitted by the A.T. Ramaswamy and V. Balasubramanya committees on encroachments are testimony to the extent of encroachments which have taken place in Bengaluru. Apart from this, the Lakshmana Rao committee had submitted a report sometime in the mid-eighties itself on protecting lakes in the city. Therefore, the state government cannot afford to ignore encroachments anymore. The ongoing demolition drive cannot be stopped but the state government will surely sympathise with those who have lost their homes,” he explained.

Reacting sharply to the opposition parties’ remarks, Home Minister, K. J. George asserted that the Congress party office and BMTC bus stand in Majestic are legal structures unlike those building which have been demolished so far in the drive. According to him, both these buildings have come up only after the state government ratified their plans, whereas building which have been demolished were built illegally on encroached land. “Opposition leaders must at least realise the difference between what is legal and what is illegal before they react or criticise the government,” he said hitting out at former law minister and BJP leader S. Suresh Kumar.

Lake encroachments: Ayukta wants govt’s view

Upa Lokayukta Justice Subhash B. Adi has issued notice to the Additional Chief Secretary of the Urban Development Department, Principal Secretary of the Revenue Department and the CEO of the Lake Development Authority to appear before him on Wednesday and make the government’s view clear on the encroachment of lake areas in and around Bengaluru, in the wake of demolition of houses constructed on Sarakki and Banasawadi lakes.

Following a hearing on removal and development of lakes held on Tuesday, Mr. Adi has directed the three officials to make the government’s stand clear on the issue. The hearing was attended by the BDA  Commissioner, Bengaluru Urban District’s Deputy Commissioner, CEO of the Lake Development Authority and others. During the hearing, Mr Adi was reportedly annoyed when the BDA Commissioner admitted that as many as 14 lakes were converted into layouts across the city. He slammed the government for flouting all norms by building layouts on lake beds.

“The law is same for all, whether the lakes are encroached by private parties or the government. People are worried about the demolitions as so many are losing their houses. They are questioning whether the demolition drive applies only to lake encroachments done by private parties or also to BDA Layouts developed on lakes. The laws applicable to the public also apply to BDA which cannot be exempted. So, the government has to make its view clear on the issue,” Mr. Adi said. The Lokayukta had received complaints against Bengaluru Urban DC V Shankar of being discriminatory while removing encroachments. However, Mr. Shankar submitted that he had orders from the High Court for the demolition or otherwise he would face contempt.

In connection with the encroachment of 14 lakes, the BDA Commissioner informed Mr. Adi that as many as 3,500 sites were formed by BDA on lake bed areas and all the areas were well developed. At this stage, it was a huge task and the cost of the construction itself may be worth more than Rs. 10,000 crores. However, he submitted that he was seeking advice from the Advocate General and the government, and it is only the government which can take a decision in this regard.

‘Provide rehab package to victims of eviction’

Coming down heavily on the government’s failure to come up with a compensation and rehabilitation package for residents who have been displaced after lake encroachments were demolished, RTI activist B.M. Shivakumar said the BDA instead of providing rehabilitation to these people was involved in money making by selling flats built on this land.

Addressing a press conference he said former Speaker H.N. Krishna had ensured that some land was earmarked to rehabilitate the victims of eviction drives about a decade ago when the BJP-JD(S) coalition was in power. About 326.18 acres of land from 17 villagers was handed over to BDA to rehabilitate the victims, he said.

Ironically, as per the government order, deputy commissioner (Urban) V. Shankar is in charge of  allotting plots to victims of the eviction drive. A large number of people have lost their houses during the eviction drive by Bengaluru Urban officials at Sarakki, Banasawadi and Chikkallasandra tank bed.