B'lore varsity to survey Jnanabharathi land

Bangalore University will soon carry out a joint survey of its land at the Jnanabharathi campus in order to clear encroachments and protect the property.

According to BU Registrar (Administration) B C Mylarappa, at least 227 out of the 1,319 acres of the varsity land have been illegally encroached upon by “vested interests”. The land was granted to the university by the State government in 1973 for construction of its main campus.

The varsity, over the years, leased out as many as 212 acres to various Central educational institutes. Thus, it was in possession of only 880 acres at the Jnanabharathi campus, Mylarappa said. The occupants of 20 acres have waged legal battles, disputing the varsity’s claims. At several places, the encroachers have formed residential or commercial layouts or rented out the properties, the BU Registrar added.

The figures stumbled out after Mylarappa and seven members of the varsity’s highest decision-making body, Syndicate, inspected on Thursday the university land said to have been encroached upon.

The huge university campus is bound by Mallathahalli (Kengunte), Chandra Layout, Nagadevanahalli, NGEF Layout, Nagarabhavi 2nd Stage, Kenchanahalli, Nayanadahalli, Pantharapalya, etc. The boundaries, however, have been blurred over the years because of encroachments, Mylarappa said.

According to the BU official, the university has proper records of the ownership but these have “not been maintained well”.

“Varsity officials took little interest in protecting these properties. Hence, the mess,” he said, adding that an acre is valued at Rs 10 crore. At this rate, the total value of varsity land lost to encroachments would be a staggering Rs 2,270 crore.

The university would form a task force to protect its properties after the survey, to be carried out jointly by BU, the Revenue Department, the BBMP, and the BDA, he added.

Thereafter, a compound wall will be constructed. Mylarappa’s “concern” for the varsity property was not shared by his bête noire and Vice-Chancellor, N Prabhu Dev, who is on a personal visit to Pune.