Bangalore district authorities launched a massive crackdown against land encroachers across all five taluks on Saturday and recovered more than 100 acres of government land in different parts of its jurisdiction valued at Rs 500 crore.

The biggest action was at Kannur in Bidarahalli Hobli of Bangalore East Taluk where 40 people had encroached upon 100 acres of pasture land (Gomala) in Survey Number 50, who were illegally operating a stone crushing factory. It is learnt that 50 acres of land was given to the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) and 20 acres to the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP). 

This piece of land is considered to have high value for its proximity to the Kempegowda International Airport.

The district authorities have identified Lokanath, Marim­uthu and Ganesh among others as the encroachers. Besides setting up a factory, they had constructed sheds for their employees. They had even developed a quarry to extract granite stone. The entire land was reclaimed in the presence of Deputy Commissioner of Bangalore Urban District V Shankar, Additional Commissioner R Venkatachalapathi, Assistant Commissioner Lakshmamma and Tahsildar Harish Naik.

Heavy police bandobast was made to ensure no law and order problem during the entire operation. The Superintendent of Police of Anti-Encroachment Task Force Zaafar Mirani was present.

In Bangalore North Additional Taluk, the district authorities took possession of the five acres and 24 guntas of government land in survey number 24 of Shivakote village under Hesaraghatta Hobli. At least nine people had encroached upon the land and had formed illegal layouts and were in a bid to sell sites. 

They were cultivating some cash crops in some portion of the land. When Tahsildar Balappa Handigunda observed these illegalities, he served notices on them and evicted them on Friday.

The Bangalore North Taluk officials led by Tahsildar Shivappa Lamani evicted encroachment of half an acre of kharaab land in survey number 102 of Chikkabanavara village in Yashwanthapura Hobli. Some people had constructed houses on the government land and rented them out. 

After serving notices on them, the encroachment was evicted.

The Bangalore South Taluk officials, led by Tahsildar Dr Dayanand busted a racket of illegal layout developers in Ramohalli and C Gollahalli. 

A former Taluk Panchayath president Krishnappa had formed illegal layouts in these two villages and intended to sell sites for Rs 25 lakh each by creating forged documents, claimed a press note issued by the taluk officials. Criminal proceedings would be initiated against Krishnappa and others for their illegalities.

In Anekal Taluk, Tahsildar Anil Kumar recovered three acres and 20 guntas of lake land in survey number 124 of Mayasandra village of Attibele Hobli. The encroachers were operating a nursery on the encroached portion.