In order to prevent potential legal challenges, the Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) persuaded Parvathi, the wife of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, to accept an offer of 14 sites as compensation. Former MUDA commissioner DB Natesh shared these details in an interview with www.justkannada.in.
Natesh explained that MUDA aimed to avoid a situation similar to a 2017 case where Sundaramma successfully demanded the return of her developed land in Srirampura, which resulted in financial penalties for some officials. To sidestep a similar legal dispute with Parvathi, MUDA efficiently resolved the matter by providing her with the sites.
He noted that offering cash or alternative land could lead to losses for MUDA. By settling with sites instead, the authority mitigated risk. Natesh mentioned that the Bengaluru Development Authority (BDA) also compensated landowners using a 50:50 ratio for developed land.
In December 2017, MUDA had opted to offer undeveloped land as an alternative for 3-16 acres in Kesare. Ultimately, Parvathi was allotted sites in upscale Vijayanagar, covering a total area of 38,600 square feet, valued at ₹8.4 crore according to guidance value and ₹20.1 crore at market rates. Natesh emphasized that both providing the land or settling at market rates would have caused significant financial losses to MUDA.
