Business Standard 01.02.2010
Encroachment to be clearedHead of the task force to protect government land V Balasubramanian revealed that 28000 acres of government land in Belgaum revenue division has been encroached.
Speaking to reporters here after chairing a review meeting at the deputy commissioner’s office, he said steps have been taken to clear 1,200 acres of land in Dharwad, Belgaum, Haveri, Gadag, Bagalkot and Bijapur districts which come under Belgaum revenue division.
Balasubramanian said the task force was holding divisional level meetings to assess the situation and take steps to clear the encroachment. The task force which had its jurisdiction limited to Bangalore city during A T Ramaswamy’s tenure has now been extended to cover entire state following complaints of government land being encroached in all the districts of the state.
He said in most cases the revenue land has been encroached. In Bangalore city alone 25,000 acres has been encroached, of which 9,000 acres have been retrieved. The maximum encroachment is in Mysore division where 250,000 acres land has been illegally occupied.
The task force has so far managed to clear encroachment in 69000 acres.
The task force chief observed that in some cases the officials were involved and said that they would be punished. “ I have instructed the officials in the districts to prepare a list of VIP’s involved in encroachment of land” Balasubramanian said. He has appealed the members of the public to call his cell number 98459 70092 to inform him about any encroachment of government land.
