Former corporator accuses real estate firm of encroaching on govt land

Former BBMP corporator N R Ramesh of the BJP on Saturday accused real estate major DLF of encroaching on 34 acres of land worth Rs 850 crore for its Westend Heights project off Begur Road.

The company rejected the allegation outright, saying that “they always followed the highest standards of compliance”.

Ramesh said in a press conference that the land was purchased by Annabel Builders and Developers Pvt Ltd where DLF Westend Heights has come up on 74 acres. “The land holding in the documents is only 60 acres whereas 14 acres have been acquired in excess. The excess land belonged to the government,” said Ramesh.

The BJP leader added that there were 33 acres and 37 guntas of government land in the area comprising a stormwater drain, a ‘gundu thopu’, pasture land, and a burial ground. He claimed that around four acres of land belonging to the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB) was also encroached upon.

He claimed that a bogus mutation register was created by two former Congress leaders.

Ramesh accused the BDA of approving the project without even surveying the area.

“Fake khatas of 60 acres of land were created by amalgamating 40 survey numbers. These lands belong to about 100 farmers. The ‘no objection certificate’ of the blood relatives of these farmers were also not sought.”
The BJP leader released documents showing the presence of A-kharab and B-kharab land where the buildings comprising 1,980 flats in 19 towers have come up. Ramesh said he has lodged a complaint with the additional chief metropolitan magistrate, Lokayukta and the Bangalore Metropolitan Task Force (BMTF) against the deal.
DLF spokesperson Divya Puri rejected the allegation saying that DLF came into being 70 years ago and has a proven track record of highest standards of compliance.

“We completed the project years ago and sold all the flats. Now, it is surprising that such allegations are levelled,” said Puri. He rubbished charges that DLF has links with close relatives of top Congress leaders.