Residents panic as land dispute halts water project
M Visvesvaraya Layout, located near Nagarbhavi, is a BDA layout in Bangalore which is presently experiencing a difficult situation of water crisis.
The layout in the western part of Bangalore is facing acute water shortage problem as land ownership issues have blocked a crucial water supply project. M Visvesvaraya Layout was developed before the cursed Arkavathy Layout.
To bring water to the layout, the BWSSB had to lay a 100 meters pipeline, when the land dispute arose over the same piece of land where the civic body had to lay the pipelines. The Jamnalal Bajaj Seva Trust alleged ownership of the land where a connecting road towards the layout has come up, putting the water project on halt. There is only one approach road to the layout passing through the land and it has been claimed by the Trust. With this, the chances of the residential enclave going without water is very genuine.
Around 2,000 houses are going to get affected, which have already come up in the layout, having provision for 17,000 sites. If sources are to be believed then, the Sir M Visvesvaraya Layout Site Allottees and Residents’ Association were shocked when they came to know that the water supply was stopped when it was about to be completed. Residents staying in this layout have been waiting for Cauvery water supply since long and now the residents are losing hope of getting water as all borewells in the layout have gone dry too.
An engineer working on the project said that the work has been stopped temporarily. They have laid the pipeline form Anjana Nagar, near Magadi Road for 8 kms, just the 100 metre stretch is pending as a private trust has stopped the work. BDA has to sort out the issue and the BWSSB has already written letters to speed up the work.
Recently a BDA engineer had inspected the layout and updated that there is a serious problem. He said that the piece of land is essential to complete the pipeline work, in return they will issue the trust TDR certificates if its claims are true.
A higher official of the trust said that it was a clear case of encroachment of the Trust’s property. In 2003- 04, BDA proposed to acquire 61 acres of Jamnalal Bajaj Seva Trust land, but BDA never gave any notification about it. Now BBMP had constructed a road and BWSSB is laying a pipeline which is illegal. Therefore the trust has opposed it and have spoken to BDA officials, he alleged.
Related Civic Issue News:
Banjara Hills: Land disputes remain unresolved
Greater Kailash land under dispute!
BBMP Bangalore, BDA Bangalore, BWSSB Bangalore, Cauvery water supply, Jamnalal Bajaj Seva Trust, land ownership, M Visvesvaraya Layout, Magadi Road, TDR certificates, Water shortage, Water supply project
