A Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) vacant land of over half an acre at Domlur earmarked for developing a mini forest has been illegally encroached upon by a private individual. He has put up a banana plantation on this land.

The fence around the land located at 4th Main, 3rd Cross at Domlur 2nd stage, adjacent to a storm water drain, remains intact. However, the land has been usurped and a makeshift shed is in place along with small banana plantation.

The  land meant for Civic Amenity (CA site) was handed over to the BBMP by  the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) on May 10, 1996, along with all roads and other utilities, for further development and maintenance of this layout developed by the BDA.

‘Unauthorised occupation’

“There was unauthorised occupation in 2 CA sites at Domlur 2nd Stage,reserved for mini forest in the handed over layout plan. While one park was successfully restored back by the civic agency and was turned into mini forest, the other remains encroached till date. A person named Rajappa along with his family has been illegally staying in the land,” said one of the residents, Col D K Havanoor.

Domlur corporator, Lakshminarayana, told Deccan Herald that he has registered a complaint with Bangalore Metropolitan Task Force (BMTF).  The BMTF has assured to file a case against the encroacher, he said.

‘Mini forest’

The corporator said the “BBMP had evicted the encroacher with the help of Indiranagar police and cleared the shed on April 4 this year. But the encroacher has come back. We are hoping that the BMTF takes immediate action as we want to build a mini forest for the benefit of residents.”

According to locals, the encroacher has been eyeing the land since the past 5 to 6 years and numerous representations have been submitted by locals as well as members of Domlur II Stage Resident Welfare Association to government officials.

When this reporter visited the spot, Rajappa who was present on this site along with his family claimed that he is the rightful owner. When asked whether he has documents to prove, he washed his hands off by saying that he does not have them now. “I purchased the land many years back and the issue is in the court,” he shot back.