Former BDA commissioner on notice for lake encroachment

Bengaluru: The former BDA commissioner, who was hailed as the reviver of the civic body while it was on the verge of closure, has got a notice from the Bengaluru Metropolitan Task Force (BMTF) on Thursday for allegedly encroaching upon Venkatarayanakere.

Based on a complaint filed by the Revenue Department, the BMTF has issued summons to former BDA commissioner Jayakar Jerome for illegally developing a layout in Gubbalala near Kanakapura.

BMTF chief T. Suneel Kumar told Deccan Chronicle that the department has alleged that BDA had formed a layout near Gubbalala on Kanakapura Road without permission from the Revenue department.

“In its complaint, the department said that in 2002, the BDA formed a layout on 4.14 acres belonging to the Venkatarayana Kere bed area and allotted to about 124 members,” he said.

Jerome was the BDA commissioner between 1991 and 2004, during which Banashankari 6th Stage was formed. It is said that the layout was formed on the lake bed area. In this regard, the BMTF has summoned Jerome on May 11 to record his statement.