BDA to keep GPS eye on land

The Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) on Wednesday in a major demolition drive recovered property worth Rs250 crore spread across 44.15 acres in Kothanur village, Bangalore South taluk.

BDA had notified 57.11 acres of land in survey number 87 of Kothanur village in Uttarahalli hobli to form JP Nagar VIII Phase extension. The preliminary notification for land acquisition was issued during 1988 and final notification in 1994, after which the land was handed over to the engineering department.

However a few people and certain institutions laid claim on the land. Several cases involving an extent of 44.21 acres were decided in favour of BDA. Following this, BDA recovered the encroached property and demolished 10 temporary sheds, a compound wall and cleared the eucalyptus grove covering an area of around seven acres.

Work on the layout formation has begun, which will include 660 sites of various dimensions. Of the remaining land of the same survey number, action is taken to re-notify 10 acres for acquisition as per the Court directions.

Speaking to DNA, BDA commissioner Siddhaiah said that BDA has now resorted to recover encroached property and develop layouts. A total station survey will be conducted across 45 layouts formed by BDA to identify encroachments. Some of these layouts that BDA still manages include Vishveshwaraiah Layout, Anjanapura, BSK VI Stage and extensions and RMV extensions. JP Nagar, Jayanagar, Vijayanagar, Koramangala, Vijayanagar, Chandra Layout and Rajajinagar, on the other hand, have been handed over to the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP).

BDA will now retrace BBMP's steps and make use of GPS monitoring and computation of sites and their status. "The total station survey will be conducted by private agencies, following which all data will be computed. GPS technology will be used for further reference. GPS will also be used in future to pinpoint encroached properties, locations and extent of encroachment. The project is estimated to cost around Rs1 crore. Tenders to finalise private agencies have been called for and the survey will start in 15 days. The entire data bank will be completed within six months. This data bank will help us know whether properties are in possession, vacant, transferred and in use,'' he added.

This data bank will also help people know the status of their sites in future and make land transactions and dealings quickly. This is the first time that BDA is using this technology for identification and survey of land. In the meantime, BDA will also survey 45 layouts across the city to identify encroachments and penalise encroachers.

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