'Lack of documents didn't deter BDA from denotifying 191 acres 13 guntas'

The Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) deleted 191 acres and 13 guntas of land from Arkavathi Layout despite most documents pertaining to the land being “missing” or “unavailable” as per its own admission, documents released by JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy suggest.

The 191 acres and 13 guntas were added to the 232 acres meant to be initially deleted in several phases. The documents give examples of how land was added to be denotified, despite recommendations to the contrary. While just 27 acres and 14 guntas of land was to be deleted as per the first list, the second list contained details of 50 acres and 2 guntas for denotification.

Given the name of H1 (without technical errors) and H2 (with technical errors), the BDA prepared two lists of land extent before issuing the final notification of the re-do scheme of the Arkavathi Layout. The H2 list, running 45 pages, contained the details of land, names of the applicant and village and survey number, along with a remark that it be not considered for deletion.

The Special Land Acquisition Officers (SLAO) identified almost all land as being fit for deletion, with a rider that the documents pertaining to them were either “unavailable” or “missing” or “in contradiction to the DC (LA)  report”. Quoting a report of October 29, 2012, most land is said to have the LAO reports in contradiction to the one by the BDA’s deputy commissioner (land acquisition).

In one particular case, an extent of four acres and 16 guntas registered in the name of one Erappa and located in Amruthahalli was deleted despite the LAO order suggesting that the land be not deleted as it does not fall under any parameter prescribed by the High Court.

There were also remarks that documents pertaining to the land were unavailable for re-inspection. But the BDA deleted this land by stating: “Technical error has been set right.”