The government has refused to concede to BJP’s demand for a comprehensive probe into reported illegalities in allotment of alternative sites in prime locations by the Bangalore Development Authority.
BJP members in the Legislative Assembly, mainly Jagadish Shettar, on Tuesday continued with their protest and argument that there were more than 500 instances of illegal allotment of alternative sites by the BDA. The government must either order an inquiry by the H Shashidhar committee or by the chief secretary. The Shashidhar committee has already submitted a report pertaining illegalities by the BDA.
Bengaluru Development Minister K J George, in his written reply, said resolutions passed by the BDA over the last few years sanctioning alternative sties in lieu of land acquired by the BDA, have been cancelled. In addition, the government has directed BDA not to invest in developing private land without acquiring them. If any land has been acquired, the landowner will be monetarily compensated but will not get alternative sites, he added.
The minister said the BDA on June 2 this year decided to cancel allotments of 51 alternative sites in 12 instances. This has been done on the recommendation of the H Shashidhar committee.
George said steps will be taken to transfer the relief amount for land acquired from the poor, directly into their accounts, and not to the holder of general power of attorney. This would prevent poor landowners from getting cheated, he said.
Pertaining to the allotment of seven sites to developer Hanumanthe Gowda, the minister said petitions have been filed in the city civil court seeking cancellation of allotments.
Shettar demanded that George should furnish documents pertaining to all the 51 alternative sites. His party colleague S R Vishwanath charged the government with taking a soft stand on Gowda. He continued to argue that Gowda has taken 45 sites illegally from the BDA.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said the services of Shashidhar could not be sought anymore as he has been appointed as member of the Finance Commission.
The BJP members staged a walkout dissatisfied with the reply.