Site owners from two Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) layouts have voiced concerns over unresolved issues, urging the authority to address their problems before proceeding with fresh allotments at the Dr. Shivaram Karanth Layout in north Bengaluru. The BDA is preparing to allocate plots in this layout, which boasts 34,000 plots and 4,500 corner sites, making it the second-largest layout after the Sir M. Visvesvaraya Layout.
A significant number of site owners in the Banashankari 6th Stage Layout, established in 2001, are currently in limbo. Over 1,000 site owners have been unable to develop their properties due to a dispute between the Forest Department and the BDA. The Forest Department has fenced off a section of the layout, claiming that the BDA encroached upon the Turahalli forest land. Furthermore, the department asserts that Block 6 of the layout was developed within the buffer zone of the forest, affecting approximately 1,150 sites now entangled in legal issues.
An official from the Banashankari 6th Stage Residential Welfare Association expressed frustration over the situation, stating, “The BDA is moving forward with site allotments at Dr. Shivaram Karanth Layout while ignoring the plight of owners in our layout. We received our sites in 2001, but due to the ongoing dispute between the BDA and the Forest Department, we cannot build on them.” The official highlighted the lack of coordination between the two departments as a significant barrier to finding a resolution, urging the BDA to prioritise resolving existing issues before embarking on new site allotments.
In a related development, many site allottees in the Arkavathy Layout have yet to receive their sites due to land shortages, as several parcels originally earmarked for the layout were subsequently denotified. While alternative sites were promised in Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Layout, not all affected allottees received these alternatives. Consequently, they are now demanding allotments in the Dr. Shivaram Karanth Layout. A BDA official responded to the concerns, stating that the authority is actively working with stakeholders to resolve these issues. However, the official clarified that these challenges are unrelated to the new allotments at the Dr. Shivaram Karanth Layout. Despite this assurance, the situation highlights the complex challenges faced by the BDA in balancing new developments with the resolution of longstanding issues, as site owners continue to seek justice and clarity.
