BENGALURU: Efforts to reclaim land by consecutive dispensations notwithstanding, more than 11.5 lakh acres of 62.7 lakh acres of government land continue to be encroached upon. The state has reclaimed nearly 2.7 lakh acres, including more than 1.6 lakh acres in the past eight years.
Tushar Giri Nath, who was principal secretary to the revenue department up to May 5, told TOI: “The department has been acting effectively in all cases where land can be reclaimed. Out of 4 lakh-plus acres that are free from litigation or are not Bagar Hukum land used by farmers, only 1.3 lakh acres need to be reclaimed. Even in other cases, efforts are on to reclaim land.” Giri Nath was appointed chief commissioner of BBMP on Thursday (May 5).
An audit done up to December 2021 by Karnataka Public Lands Corporation (KPLC), the nodal agency for public land-related matters, shows that of 11.5 lakh acres of government land under encroachment, more than 9.9 lakh acres are identified as Bagar Hukum (without authorisation) land being cultivated by farmers. Over 9,700 acres of encroached land is stuck in litigation, while more than 14,000 acres have been encroached upon for public projects, including roads, bridges, anganwadi centres, etc.
4 districts with most encroachments
District-wise analysis of the data shows Chitradurga, Chikkamagaluru, Shivamogga and Udupi together account for more than 45% of the total encroachment. As per KPLC, this is because most of the Bagar Hukum land is in these districts.
In the other two categories — land stuck under litigation (9,738 acres) and that encroached for public purposes (14,047 acres) — Bengaluru tops the list. Of all the land under litigation, 22% is in Bengaluru, and another 20% in Mysuru. And, 92% of the land encroached for public purposes is in Bengaluru (7,881 acres), followed by Shivamogga (5,005 acres).
According to KPLC officials, the government is looking into Bagar Hukum land on a case-by-case basis and decisions will be made on giving it to the farmers. “The extent of land the government decides to give to farmers will be removed from the enrichment list. In some cases, it is even mulling giving this land on lease to farmers,” an official said.
