Villagers of Chamarajanagar district need not be worried over land claims: Pramoda Devi Wadiyar

Wadiyar was clarifying about reports in the media that the villagers are worried because her family was claiming ownership of some parts of the lands in a few villages of Chamarajananagar district.

Mysuru: Pramoda Devi Wadiyar, member of the erstwhile royal family, said that the villagers of Chamarajanagar district need not be anxious as there will be no problem from her side even if the private lands of her family are given katha in her name.

At a media conference in Mysuru Palace on Monday, Wadiyar was clarifying about reports in the media that the villagers are worried because Wadiyar was claiming ownership of some parts of the lands in a few villages of Chamarajananagar district.

It may be noted that the people of villages like Siddaiahnapura were anxious about losing the lands they are cultivating on following a letter dated March 20 by Wadiyar to Chamarajanagar DC to issue katha in her name to 5,119 acres and nine guntas of land in several villages and survey numbers in Chamarajanagar district as they are the private properties of the royal family.

The villagers had warned of a protest and to kill themselves in front of the Mysuru Palace if their lands are given to the erstwhile royal family. Nagaraj, a leader of Siddaiahnapura, had said, “Maharaja Sri Jayachamarajendra Wadiyar had gifted 1,035 acres of land to the people of Siddaiahnapura. In 1982, the then minister B Rachaiah had issued them ‘Saaguvali Cheet’ (permits) for agriculture. We have been farming for decades. Would it be justice to snatch our lands now?”

Support to farmers

Bharatiya Kisan Sangha has extended support to the farmers. Lingaraju of BKS has urged the government to intervene and provide justice to the people.

Wadiyar has written a letter to the Deputy Commissioner, Assistant Commissioner, Tahsildar, Deputy Director and Assistant Director for Land Records on March 20, as she got information that her private properties were being converted into revenue villages. “The Chamarajanagar District Administration should prevent registration of the assets in the name of others. No transaction related to the land should be allowed until the land is registered in the name of the royal family,” she had sought.

Fears allayed

Wadiyar said she was not in town for a couple of days and on her return found that the villagers were anxious and so she decided to allay their fears. “There is no question of claiming the lands gifted by the Maharaja. The villagers need not worry even if the katha is done in my name. I do not intend to trouble them. If they have any problem, they can approach the Mysuru Palace Office. The problems will be solved without the intervention of the government,” she said.

In reply to a question pointing at the statement of Chamarajanagar DC Shilpa Nag that Wadiyar has not provided supporting documents for her claim, Wadiyar said, she had written a letter in 2014 itself, asking the DC to change the katha of the lands in her name and all necessary documents had been provided then itself.

“Besides, we won a case, filed by a farmer in Chamarajanagar in 2020 before a court. Its judgement is also an evidence. As per the agreement signed between the Maharaja and the then Union government on January 23, 1950, a list of our private properties was made. The list includes 4,445 acres and 33 guntas of land in Atagolipura, 130 acres and three guntas on survey number 125, 124, 134, 135, 133, 463, 169, and 184 in Haradanahalli, 63 acres 39 guntas in Boodithittu village, 23 guntas in Karadihalla village, 190 acres and four guntas in Kannikere village, 199 acres 27 guntas in Ummathuru village, 13 acres in Basavapura village, and Maharaja's ‘Janana Mantapa’ and park in Chamarajanagar town,” Wadiyar said.

Replying to a question on whether she tried to contact the DC over the issue, Wadiyar said she messaged the DC on March 29, but there was no response from her.