Shivaram Karanth Layout: BDA to seek court’s permission to call applications for allotment of sites

The Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) is set to file an affidavit before the Karnataka High Court on Friday, seeking permission to call for applications from interested people for allotment of residential sites in the Shivaram Karanth Layout, according to Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar.

Replying to a call attention notice in this regard by BJP member S.R. Vishwanath in the Assembly, Mr. Shivakumar pointed out that applications had not been called for allocation of sites under this layout as it was mired in litigation since 2017.

“We have spent about ₹10,000 crore on the formation of the Shivaram Karanth Layout. But due to the delay in calling for applications to allot the sites, the BDA is suffering a loss of ₹1,000 crore a year. If the court permits us to call for applications, then the BDA would start getting money from the allocation of sites,” he said.

Meanwhile, the BDA was in the process of developing a software to help allocate compensatory sites to land-losing farmers in Shivaram Karanth Layout, he said.

Farmers were supposed to get developed area measuring close to ₹9,600 sq. ft. in the form of sites for every one acre of land acquired from them if they do not opt for cash compensation. The farmers had requested that the allocation of such compensatory plots should be made next to each other instead of being scattered in different streets. While a decision on their request would be made soon, the proposed software by the BDA would help in the allocation of compensatory sites, he noted.

Meanwhile, Leader of the Opposition R. Ashok demanded the constitution of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to look into the alleged irregularities in the allotment of sites by the Vijaya Bank Employees House Building Co-operative Society.

He alleged that the Society had given ₹69 crore collected from 1,700 members to SPR Constructions to buy 125 acres of land in 20015-06. However, the firm did not give the land, though several years had passed, following which the society approached the court which asked the firm to pay ₹188 crore, he noted.

As the firm failed to pay even this amount, even after several years had passed, the court had now asked it to pay ₹644 crore. But some of the officials of the Co-operation Department had colluded with the society’s office-bearers to bail out the firm at the cost of members who had paid for sites, he alleged and urged the government to protect the interest of members.

Responding to this, RDPR Minister Priyank Kharge said he would bring the issue to the notice of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.