Small fish get the stick while big sharks, by and large, get away with it. This was the norm as reflected during a spot inspection by members of the Joint Legislative Committee on Land Encroachment, on Tuesday.
While the big guns charged with encroachment of government land, including Wipro Chairman Azim Premji, have been let off with notices, the law-makers have not been equally lenient with the others, according to the Committee members.
The members, headed by Chairman MLA A T Ramaswamy, visited six spots (see box) on Tuesday, with the combined value of encroached land running in the excess of Rs 260 crore.
According to the Committee, 23 guntas of the property on which Premji’s guest house has come up off Kempapura Lake, is encroached. District administration officials claimed that a notice had been sent, following which the encroachment was cleared, a week ago.
Ramaswamy, however, voiced concern over the fact that no criminal action was initiated. Boundaries have been realigned and labourers have also started work on a new compound wall. The guest house is located next to a property developed by United Builders and Developers, again on encroached land.
The tank — which has a total spread of 13 acres and 15 guntas — has its four acres and nine guntas encroached by individuals and companies, including UBD. No criminal action has been initiated against UBD either.
More on lakes
In another case of encroachment, 32 acres and one gunta of land on the Gangadhara Bhat Tank in Kaudenahalli has been encroached, including St Anne’s Engineering College for Women that has come up on 10 acres.
The college is functioning, despite repeated rulings by different courts that land on tank beds cannot be granted to anyone.
“The tank was declared live by the Lakshman Rao Committee and was handed over to the Forest Department for maintainance. No such initiative was taken,” K Harish, who is involved with the Janahitha Samrakshana Samithi, said.
ENDLESS ENCROACHMENT
Millers Tank Bed, off Queens Road
Area encroached: 45,000 sq ft
Value of land encroached: Rs 45 crore*
The case: Indian Council of Social Welfare gets BMP land on lease for constructing working women’s hostel, sub-leases to Maruti Fund City Ltd. The case is on, though BBMP has reclaimed possession.
Pottery Town, K G Byadarahalli
Area encroached: Three acres, 13 guntas
Value of land encroached: Rs 30 crore
The case: Navodaya Sahakara Sangha allegedly forges documents to claim ownership of a playground. The Tahsildar clears the documents. The case is on.
Kaudenahalli Tank Bed, Ramamurthy Nagar
Area encroached: 32 acres one gunta
Value of land encroached: Rs 160 crore
The case: An engineering college, around 1,500 houses come up on tank bed. Repeated court rulings state that land on tank beds cannot be given away in grant. The college continues to function.
Chinnappanahalli
Area encroached: One acre 10 guntas
Value of land encroached: Rs 6 crore
The case: Encroachments come up on tank bed. After Committee spots them, nine houses, eight sheet sheds cleared. One encroached house yet to go, due to court stay.
Bellandur Tank Bed
Area encroached: One acre 39 guntas
Value of land encroached: Rs 10 crore
The case: Encroachments, including concrete structures, come up on tank bed. There are serious concerns of sewage water mixing with the lake water. Encroachments have been cleared.
Kempapura Tank Bed
Area encroached: Four acres nine guntas
Value of land encroached: Rs 20 crore
The case: Kempapura Tank Bed encroached by private builders and individuals, including Azim Premji. Encroachments cleared, but officials slammed for not initiating criminal action against accused.
* Approximate values