BDA's compensation camps for land losers

Poor response to offer of sites to farmers

The Bangalore Development Authority  (BDA) will hold camps at villages where lands have been acquired for the formation of Arkavathy Layout to facilitate the process of claiming compensation.

The move comes in the wake of lukewarm response to the offer of giving developed sites in exchange for the land acquired.

The Karnataka government on March 18, 2011, issued a notification directing the BDA to part with 9,583 sq ft of developed land in exchange for every acre acquired for the formation of the layout.

The measure was intended to resolve the tussle over land acquisition.  However, BDA officials said the response had not been at desired level despite repeated appeals to farmers for submitting necessary documents.

“In fact, we have registered only 180 sites in the names of farmers and there are 3,400 more sites to be registered,” said an official.

A senior official with the BDA told Deccan Herald that a two-day camp will be conducted in villages falling under Bangalore North and East taluks, where lands have been acquired for the formation of the layout.

“On October 31, our officials will camp in Dasarahalli, Byrathikhane, Chelakere, Geddalahalli, K Narayanapura, Rachenahalli, Thanisandra, Amruthahalli. On November 1, camps will be held in Jakkur, Kempapura, Sampigehalli, Srirampura, Venkateshpura, Hennur, Hebbal and Nagavara villages. We are giving wide publicity in the villages so that farmers come forward and submit documents for claiming compensation,” he said.

Sunil K, a member of the farmers’ association alleged that the officials were creating confusion in the name of calling for submission of records to claim compensation.

 “Many farmers fear they will lose land as well as be deprived of compensation and hence they want to keep away. For the same reason, we did not respond to the BDA calls when it held camps in Jakkur,” he said.  

With there being no signs of an end to the impasse, the wait for sites continues for the allottees. Arkavathy Layout is being formed in select villages of Bangalore North and East taluks.