Bengaluru Development Authority (BDA) remains determined to acquire 2,000 acres of land beyond Yelahanka and Whitefield for its new residential layout. In pursuit of this goal, the BDA has instructed the Bangalore Electricity Supply Corporation Limited (Bescom) to refrain from providing power connections to buildings constructed on revenue sites.
In a letter dated February 20, BDA Commissioner N Jayaram conveyed to the Bescom Managing Director the agency’s intention to extend the K Shivaram Karanth Layout to 36 villages in the northern and eastern peripheries of Bengaluru. The letter mentioned the need to prevent construction activities on properties earmarked for acquisition, citing potential obstacles to the new project.
Furthermore, the BDA has ceased issuing sanctioned plans or approvals for new construction endeavors, residential or commercial, in the 36 villages. However, critics argue that the BDA’s actions infringe upon constitutional rights, particularly the rights of property owners, as the government has yet to officially notify the acquisition of the targeted 2,000 acres.
Residents and activists like Mavalipura Srinivas have raised concerns about the legality and ethicality of the BDA’s approach. Srinivas has filed a complaint with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, urging intervention to halt the proposed acquisition until adequate compensation is provided to affected farmers.
Notably, several villages slated for acquisition fall within environmentally sensitive areas, including the green zone and the Thippagondanahalli reservoir watershed, which supplies water to the city. Critics argue that the BDA lacks the authority to dictate civic amenity provisions enforced by other agencies.
