The Deccan Herald  09.12.2010

BDA stops giving sites to Sir M V Layout land losers

Bangalore, December 8, DHNS:

The BDA has stopped allotment of alternative sites in old layouts for those who lost revenue sites in Sir M V Layout.

The BDA secretary has issued a circular (dated December 4, 2010) directing all deputy secretaries to stop allotment of stray sites in BTM Layout 4th and 6th phase, J P Nagar 8th and 9th phase and Banashankari 5th phase, for those who owned revenue sites in Sir M V Layout.

Deccan Herald had carried a story in its issue dated December 2, reporting irregularities in allotment of alternative sites. The irregularities caused a loss of revenue to the tune of Rs 1,000 crore to the BDA, the report had said.

BDA began issuing allotment letters on December 1. The Authority had released a list of over 1,300 beneficiaries of alternative sites. Many of them were allotted sites worth Rs 50 lakh to Rs 70 lakh in lieu of revenue sites worth only a few thousands of rupees. This was in clear violation of the BDA rules and its own affidavit before the High Court. The BDA, in its affidavit, had stated that it would allot alternative sites in the to-be-developed Kempe Gowda Layout.

Many of the beneficiaries were said to be middlemen who purchased GPA from original owners of revenue sites. Soon after the irregularities in the allotment were reported in Deccan Herald, BDA stopped issuing the allotment letters in such cases. According to officials in BDA, only those who got alternative sites in new layouts were being given the letters now.

The Deccan Herald  09.12.2010

Demolition continues in Hassan; begins in Mandya

Hassan/Mandya, December 8, DHNS:

The operation against illegal places of worship continued on Wednesday too. Two places of worship were removed on early hours amid tight police security.

The operation against illegal places of worship continued on Wednesday too. Two places of worship were removed on early hours amid tight police security.

An idol of Basava on BM road was evicted amid protests from a group around 2 am.The idol was removed as it was affecting traffic movement on B M Road.

The idol had been installed on the cattle fair land many years ago. The administration had decided to evict the idol citing traffic problems.

This act invited ire from a group of people who demanded that the Basava idol should be handed over to the community.

However, the CMC officials declined on the ground that the idol belonged to them as it had been installed on their groud. The idol would be consecrated in a suitable place, the officials added.

Dargah removed

A dargah situated on Old Post Office Road was also pulled down. The dargah, which was built beside Vani Vilas school,  was also demolished with the help of the earth moving machine.

The operation passed off peacefully without any resistance from the community members.

Tahasildar Mathais said the drive would be continued till all the unauthorised places of worship were removed.

Drive begins in Mandya

The drive against illegal places of worship begun in Mandya Taluk from Wednesday.
The operation, being led by Tahsildar Dr R Rajendra Prasad, razed three places of worship. The demolition drive was done under police security at Bevinahalli, Kyathungere and Kothathi villages. Boredevaru and Kyathungere Anjaneyaswamy Temples, which were constructed by roads, were demolished. Scores of people watched the earth moving machinery pulling down the illegal structures. However, there was no resistance from anybody.

Tahsildar Rajendra Prasad told Deccan Herald that all the illegal places of worship would be removed as per directions of the Supreme Court.

He said the villagers were cooperating. The drive would be launched in Mandya city very soon. A few villagers opined that they have no objection if the district administration followed the apex court’s order.

However, the government should make alternative arrangements for the consecration of the displaced idols elsewhere.