Arkavathy allottees to move court over BDA's inaction

The Arkavathy Layout Allottees Association (ALAA) will file a writ of mandamus in the next two weeks, alleging ‘inaction’ of the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) on directions from the Supreme Court to form the layout.

Following a detailed discussion at their general body meeting earlier last week, the ALAA has decided to hire the services of lawyers Sirajin Basha and K Balraj to fight their case agains the BDA and the Karnataka government, who have allegedly failed to execute the apex court’s directions.

“Over the past two years, the BDA has been claiming that they are waiting for the farmers to claim their compensation and proceed with the formation of the layout.

However, the Authority, despite publishing advertisements five times in the past two years, has failed to garner any response from the farmers,” claimed Sanjay Marlecha, a member of the ALAA.

While three advertisements were published under the reign of T Sham Bhatt earlier this year, two more were published during the tenure of Bharath Lal Meena as the commissioner of BDA.

The Association has called upon the BDA to use ‘executive’ force in removing any obstacles laid down by the local farmers in the 12 villages which have been earmarked for the layout.

“When the Cosmopolitan Housing Society, meant for the IAS and IPS officers, was being formed, the BDA used executive force and arrested the agitating farmers. Why are they not using it for the welfare of the 8,813 allottees? Why are they showing double standards?” questioned Marlecha.

Meanwhile, the president of the ALAA, Shiva Prakash on Friday met the BDA chairperson and the deputy secretary in-charge of the Arkavathy Layout formation to ascertain the ground realities.

Based on the technicalities of the BDA being not able to evict the farmers agitating against the formation of the layout, and the fact that the Authority is not exercising its powers to form the layout in the stipulated time frame, the ALAA will fight the legal battle for the possession of their ‘rightful’ property.

According to the ALAA, with over seven years since the allottees were promised their sites, cost of construction has increased between 2005 and 2012. “With most allottees over the age of 50 years, it is almost impossible to get a bank loan if they wish to construct a house on their designated site,” he said.  
 
BDA commissioner T Sham Bhatt was not available for comments.