Bengaluru: Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) carried out 14 demolition drives between July and Dec last year and reclaimed encroached properties worth over Rs 704.3 crore across the city.During the drives, more than 25 acres of encroached land were reclaimed across south, north and east Bengaluru. The authority demolished unauthorised RCC buildings, sheds, compound walls and industrial structures that had come up on land acquired for layouts, roads and infrastructure projects.The largest recoveries were reported from JP Nagar 9th Phase, where over 12.5 acres, valued at around Rs 370 crore, were reclaimed in three phases. Major drives were also conducted in Jnanabharathi Layout (1 acre and 16 guntas, worth Rs 153 crore), Kengeri Satellite Town (37,000 sq ft, worth Rs 50 crore), and HRBR and HBR layouts, together accounting for over 26 guntas valued at nearly Rs 35 crore.“The drives were planned after issuing mandatory notices, giving a minimum of seven days’ time as per law, and making public announcements. Despite this, many ignored the notices. No compensation is payable as these are illegal occupations, though time was given on humanitarian grounds,” a senior BDA official said. “The reclaimed land will be used for future BDA projects, existing layouts or auctioned to generate revenue, subject to legal clearances. Properties that are clearly demarcated and independent will be auctioned, while parcels that are not separately identifiable will be utilised for layout formation,” the official added.BDA chairman NA Haris said, “Wherever there is illegal occupation, we will clear it, while cases pending in court are acted upon only after directions are issued. There are no specific new plans at this stage. Once the land is restored to BDA, decisions on its use will be taken later. This is not a special drive but part of our regular responsibility to safeguard BDA property.”
