JOIN USThe district administration has decided to take over Venkatarayana Kere, over which a layout has been formed illegally by the Bangalore Development Authority at Gubbalala village near Uttarahalli.
The survey of the tank, which started a fortnight ago, ended on Wednesday. Its boundary was demarcated in the presence of Bangalore South tahsildar Dayananda. In all likelihood, the boundary will be fenced with barbed wires.
The Bangalore Urban district authorities will shortly issue an order to take over the Venkatarayana Kere.
The tank will be taken over to curb attempts at grabbing the remaining portion of the tank and huge tracts of government land adjacent to it. The district authorities are now waiting for BDA’s plans to shift those who have built houses in the layout.
Upa Lokayukta Justice Subhash Adi has directed BDA to come out with an alternative plan to shift those who have constructed houses and provide alternatives to the site allottees. With this, pressure is mounting on BDA officials to act fast and come out with a tank revival plan at the earliest, to undo the damage done by it 10 years ago.
The Bangalore Metropolitan Task Force is also probing the illegalities in the formation of the layout on the tank bed and has registered a case of cheating and forgery against the BDA officials involved in the fraud.
Deccan Herald had discovered Venkatarayana Kere (tank) last year as part of its effort to save Subramanyapura Lake, its catchment area, stormwater drains in the upstream and also, the watershed area.