'Reclaim land encroached by influential'

Sarkari Bhoomi Samrakshana Horata Samiti leader V P Shashidar has urged the district administration to clear the encroachments of thousands of acres of government land in Kushalnagar town panchayat.

Addressing reporters here on Friday, he said that Kushalnagar has been declared as a new taluk, but the problem of encroachment of government lands by politically influential people has not been solved.

The district administration should initiate proper measures in this regard, he said.

He further pointed out that many government offices are functioning in private buildings. What was the need to waste public money for the rent of buildings when government land is already available? he asked.

Stating that the land mafia is on the rise in the city, Shashidhar alleged that the revenue and town panchayat officials are hand in gloves with the wrongdoers. During the British period, Kushalnagar was identified as a notified area. According to this, separate revenue numbers were allotted to immovable assets. But the revenue department has been providing land to affluent people without surveying the land.

“The rate for a single cent of land in Kushalnagar has reached Rs 10 lakh to Rs 25 lakh. Thousands of acres of forest, paisari and gomala lands have been encroached. The revenue department has sanctioned government lands in Mullusoge, Gummanakolli, Kudluru, Basavanahalli, Gondibasavanahalli, Madapattana and Bolluru to influential people.

Sarkari Bhoomi Samrakshana Horata Samiti members Amrit Raj, Anand Kumar, Annaiah and K S Nagesh were present in the press meet.