Lokayukta comes to the rescue of Madavara Lake

12.5 acres of the total 71.30 acres are grabbed by various entities

The Lokayukta has ordered the Bengaluru Urban deputy commissioner to remove encroachments running into 12.5 acres from Madavara Lake, off Tumakuru Road.

Taking note of a complaint about the land grab, Lokayukta Justice P Vishwanath Shetty had directed the Department of Survey, Settlement and Land Records to hold a joint survey of the lake that is spread over 71.30 acres in four villages — Madavara (survey number 48), Chikkabidarakallu (survey number 21), Tirumalapura (survey number 32) and Doddabidarakallu (survey number 98) in northern Bengaluru.

The joint director of land records conducted the joint survey between January 17 and March 13, 2018, and reported encroachments on 10.33 acres of the lakebed. Among the culprits is a reputable healthcare institute. As much as 1.12 acres of the lake land was grabbed by the government itself for allotting sites to 15 families under the Ashraya housing scheme.

Acting on the report, the anti-corruption watchdog has ordered the removal of all encroachments, except the portion occupied by the 15 families. Justice Shetty quoted a Supreme Court order on "public trust doctrine".

"The Supreme Court, while extending the principle of public trust doctrine, has held that certain properties belonging to the state, which are meant for the benefit of society, cannot be disposed of either by way of lease or by sale. It is needless to point out (that) if such properties like tank bed areas are illegally occupied by land grabbers, it is the duty of the state and its officers to evict them from such lands and take possession of the land and preserve it for the benefit and welfare of the people living around the lakes," the order stated.

The order further said: "The deputy commissioner (must) consider the report submitted by the Joint Director of Land Records, along with the sketch filed by him, and take effective steps for removal of the encroachment within a period of four months. However, so far as about 15 families (are concerned), it is desirable that they should be evicted only after making (a) provision for their rehabilitation after providing alternative sites or houses."

Lake encroachment: where and how much

adavara	2.13 acres
Chikkabidarakallu	5.3 acres
Tirumalapura	4.23 acres
Doddabidarakallu	0.06 guntas