According to the BBMP sources, the old Bangalore region comprising Chickpet, Sultanpet, Avenue Road, BVK Iyengar Road, Balepet and Majestic have no written records related to the ownership of each piece of land. Officials state that the old Bangalore area do not have proper records to establish ownership.
“There has never been a proper land survey in these places,” informed one highly placed Palike source.
According to sources, the erstwhile BMP in the 1970s did carry out a land survey but could never ascertain the ownership of any piece of land. “The survey was done and statements of the people, who claimed that they were owners, were recorded. However, no effort was made to verify as to whether the properties actually belonged to them,” informed the source.
According to N Nagaraj, corporator from Byrasandra and Chairman of the Property Recovery Committee, the Palike has for long been facing the problem in the old Bangalore area.
Exact picture
“But now we have recommended for the total survey of the area to get an exact picture of encroachments,” Nagaraj said.
In such a scenario, it appears the BBMP is now in a spot of bother to ascertain which of the properties are in fact illegal. The Palike is now banking on the archives of the Revenue Department to ascertain the extent of the BBMP land, if any is available.
It is estimated that nearly 350 properties of the BBMP have been encroached in Chickpet, Avenue Road and the adjoining areas.
