Revenue Minister Kagodu Thimmappa seeks report on Kengeri land

Revenue Minister Kagodu Thimmappa on Wednesday said he will seek a detailed report on how a 24.37-acre land estimated to be worth Rs 250 crore in Kengeri continues to be "misused" despite recovery by the government.

Revenue authorities had taken possession of the land in Survey No. 47 in Pantharapalya, Kengeri, Bengaluru South taluk in June 2016 and had cleared encroachments.

Congress MLC P R Ramesh, a former Bengaluru mayor, raised the issue in the Legislative Council. "How is it that a private person continues to use land to his benefit despite the government having recovered the land? The land is being used to dump mud, there's construction taking place, gas lorries are parked there and sheds have come up. This land is worth Rs 250 crore," Ramesh said.

Thimmappa said that one A C Ananthaswamy had moved high court after the government cleared the encroachment. "There is a stay order from the court. So, although the land is in our possession, we are unable to do anything further. But this misuse is wrong. I will immediately seek a detailed report from the authorities," Thimmappa said.

The land is B-karab, which is non-cultivable land belonging to the government. Abutting this is survey number 59, a 2.01-acre land that is identified as a lake. Lake land cannot be used for any other purpose, Thimmappa said.

'I'm ashamed'

In a candid outburst, Revenue Minister Kagodu Thimmappa told the Legislative Council he was "ashamed" that legislators were not showing interest towards clearing applications seeking regularisation of 'bagair hukum' cultivation land. "My head hangs in shame. I appeal to all legislators, who chair the committee to look into this, to hold meetings even if just two people attend."