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Banaswadi lake: BDA main encroacher

Authority has taken over 12.61 acres and allotted plots to 155 individuals
Last Updated 30 November 2015, 20:13 IST

The Department of Survey Settlement and Land Record has identified 155 BDA-allotted plots and 55 private-individual-held properties, including two petrol bunks, as encroachments at Banaswadi lake, which is one of the most abused lakes in the Bengaluru Urban district.

Of the total 40.2 acres of the lake area, only 15.39 acres is left now – about 24.81 acres of the lake land is under encroachment, as per a survey sketch of Banaswadi lake (also called Channasandra lake II) prepared by the Department of Survey and Land Record (SSLR).

The department has almost completed the survey of 4,205 lakes and water bodies located in Bengaluru Urban and Bengaluru Rural districts and uploaded them on its website along with the names of all encroachers.

The information can be accessed at http://landrecords.karnataka.gov.in/revenuemaps/lakesurvey.aspx

The BDA is the biggest encroacher of Banaswadi lake located in Krishnarajapuram hobli in Bengaluru East taluk. The Authority has encroached upon 12.61 acres and formed HRBR Block II Layout. It has allotted residential plots to 155 individuals, most of whom have already constructed houses.

Though it is the BDA that has encroached upon the lake, the SSLR has published names of all 155 site allottees along with the sketch. Ironically, the lake is currently being maintained by the BDA.

Besides, the SSLR has identified about 55 properties held by private individuals in Banaswadi lake area along with their names. Most of them are residential houses.

Two petrol bunks, many commercial complexes and two temples are also part of private encroachments. But the survey sketch has not mentioned the names of the commercial complexes and the petrol bunks.

The Bengaluru Urban district revenue authorities had taken up a drive to clear all encroachments on Banaswadi lake in May this year. But the drive was abruptly stopped following stiff opposition from the Opposition parties, the BJP and the JD(S). The drive was also conducted at Puttenahalli, Sarakki and Jaraganahalli lakes and most of the encroachments were cleared.

Except for encroachment by one individual, the new sketch of  Puttenahalli lake prepared by the SSLR is free from all encroachments. The survey sketch of Sarakki and Jaraganahalli lakes are yet to be uploaded.

 Sources in the Bengaluru Urban district administration said the government had directed the officials to not initiate any action to clear encroachment on any of the lakes until the Assembly Committee submits its report.

The SSLR has already submitted almost all survey sketches to the committee. The government is planning to regularise residential houses built on lakes.

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(Published 30 November 2015, 19:16 IST)

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