District admn will clear encroached govt land: DC

The district administration has initiated measures to clear encroached 15,096 acre government land in various parts of the district. Initially, the encroachers had expressed their displeasure against the authorities.

At a few places, barring the land where encroachers have constructed houses, the remaining land has been reclaimed.

In Madikeri taluk 6, 289.36 acre land  Somwarpet taluk—2,958.22 acre and Virajpet taluk—5,848.08 acre have been encroached.

Balasubramanyam committee constituted by the previous State government had submitted a detailed report on the encroachment of government land to the government.

The report has reference to encroachment of government land in Kodagu as well.

When the State government failed to initiate measures to reclaim the land, Samaja Parivarthana Samudaya members filed a writ in the High Court questioning the encroachment of government land.

The State government had filed an affidavit in the court that they will clear the encroachment by the year end.

Teams constituted

The Deputy Commissioner has constituted teams under the aegis of revenue department officials to clear the encroached land.

A total of 14 cases with 83 acre encroached land has been cleared in the district till May end. Encroached land in Madikeri, Sampaje, Chembu, Napoklu, Yuvakapdy and Korangala has been cleared.

Similarly, in Somwarpet taluk, a total of 3.33 acre land has been cleared.

Notices have been issued to the encroachers. The drive to clear encroached land in Nangala, Kedamullur, Heggala, Ammathi, Ponnampet, Srimangala in Virajpet hobli is being taken up.

After clearing the land, the land will be reclaimed, said officials. The district administration has directed revenue inspector to file criminal case against those encroachers who fail to extend their support to the district administration in the drive.

‘Land for ex-servicemen’

Speaking to Deccan Herald, Deputy Commissioner Anurag Tiwari said that it has been decided to distribute reclaimed land among poor, ex-servicemen and tribals.

The government has several housing schemes for the poor.

However, owing to lack of space, the housing schemes could not be implemented effectively.

“We have not made a list of encroachers. The list was prepared a few years ago. We are taking up the drive to clear the encroached land following the direction of the High Court. If we get documents to prove encroachment of the land by rich and companies, measures will be taken to clear the land,” he said.