How GP officials connived with realtors to erase green belt

Illegal layouts seem to be on the rise in the green belt area on the outskirts of Bengaluru. In Hunasamaranahalli village, on the way to Kempegowda International Airport (KIA), alone 670 khatas were issued in green belt zone, it has emerged.

Based on Upalokayukta Justice Subhash B Adi's order, Panchayat Development Officer Sharanappa has been suspended and an inquiry has been ordered. A complaint filed by K Vijaya Kumar stated that several sites were created and that the PDO, Secretary and Accountant of the Hunasamaranahalli Gram Panchayat (GP) concerned have approved form 11-B, which is mandatory to sell the land.

“Huge lands in and around Devanahalli area till Doddaballapur fall under green zone. Except for Hosahalli village, all others are under green belt. Certain real estate developers have been purchasing these lands for creating layouts. Since villagers cannot sell the land without form 11-B, the PDO along with other officials connived with real estate developers and issued the forms,” the complaint stated.

Justice Adi directed the officials to take action on the rampant issuance of 834 forms (11-B) in just one village.

“The area in and around Devanahalli is fast developing and real estate is quite rapid. Based on the directions, the Taluk Panchayat Executive Officer (EO), through an order on June 24, suspended the PDO for misconduct, pending departmental inquiry. As many as 834 khatas were issued to the properties in green belt area in the village. Out of this, 269 have already been cancelled and the process of cancellation of the remaining khatas is on,” he said.

The government had clarified that the land reserved as green belt shall not be used for non-agricultural purpose. The report by the EO stated that the khatas were issued from March 2014 to March 2015.

“The issue with certain areas in and around Devanahalli is about lack of regulatory authority. These areas do not come under Bangalore Metropolitan Region Development Authority and thus GPs, which are now computerised, issue such khatas in bulk. The inquiry into the role of other officials in the Hunasamaranahalli GP is on. If this is the state of affairs in one GP limits, what could be the situation of green belt in other villages. This certainly requires a deeper probe,'' Justice Adi said. He has directed the officials to submit action taken report on August 6.