Kuruvagatti Villagers Protest Eviction Notice

DHARWAD

Tension has gripped Kuruvagatti village in Dharwad district after the Gram Panchayat issued eviction notices to 120 families, alleging that they have encroached upon lake land located in Survey No. 22. The notices claim the residents have illegally constructed houses on the land and must vacate immediately, based on a complaint reportedly filed with the Lokayukta.

However, the villagers have strongly opposed the move, arguing that they have been living in the area for decades. Many claim that the government itself had constructed plots under housing schemes, such as Janata houses, on the disputed land. “We did not build houses illegally. In 1978, the Gram Panchayat constructed Janata houses here and provided us with basic facilities,” said one resident.

Following the issuance of the notices, affected families staged a protest at the Deputy Commissioner’s (DC) office and submitted a petition seeking protection from eviction. They pleaded that they have nowhere else to go, and the sudden notice has left them distressed.

Residents say they have been residing peacefully in the area for nearly 50 years and now feel betrayed by the authorities who once supported their settlement. They demand that the eviction order be revoked and that the government recognise the legitimacy of their dwellings.

The matter has now reached the district administration, and the villagers are awaiting a response. The issue raises questions about the clarity of land records, past housing projects, and the role of Gram Panchayats in long-standing settlements.

In Kurubagatti, where a Kariamma temple, Panduranga temple, Shivananda Math, Ambedkar Bhavan, warehouse, three overhead tanks, and a primary health center exist, residents say the eviction order is unjust. They have urged authorities to withdraw the notice immediately, calling the action unfair and disruptive to their long-established community.