Survey to determine 'encroachment' of SWD by Prestige Group

 Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike commissioner N Manjunath Prasad has asked Survey, Settlement and Land Records department to survey the encroachment on stormwater drain by the Prestige Group for their Tech Park near Bellandur lake.

Prasad said, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister T B Jayachandra had directed him to find out the encroachment as it affected the KC Valley water project.

“Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB) had allotted a piece of land to the Prestige Group. There are allegations that the firm has encroached upon a portion of stormwater drain, which needs to be surveyed. In this regard, I have asked the survey and settlement department for a survey of the stormwater drain,” said Prasad.

Prestige Group reacts
Meanwhile, the Prestige Group has dismissed the allegations of encroaching government property.

Chairman and Managing Director of the Prestige Group, Irfan Razack said the firm has never indulged in any illegal activities. “There seems to be some misunderstanding. Let the survey happen. A portion of the land near Bellandur was given to us by the KIADB. The structures we built are five to six years old where 1.5 lakh people are employed by about a dozen multinational companies,” said Razack.

He added that the firm pays property tax in crores of rupees to the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike.

“We would not have invested such a huge amount if we had violated the norm,” said Razack adding that it is easy to demolish while difficult to build.

The chairman of Prestige Group said that he has faith in the Constitutional bodies and that he would come out clean.

A press release issued by Prestige Group said that, “The Prestige Group as a company has always respected and trusted in the rule of law. Whatever work we have undertaken till date, has always been completed with all requisite permissions and sanctions at all times. Prestige respects the environment and has always focused on developing eco-friendly properties. The spaces that we create not only enhance the value of our property, but also of the entire area.” The press release said the company was not clear about the building in question.