Bengaluru: Thousands of crores worth lands belonging to many Universities in the State, including the lands in University of Mysore, have been encroached. The State Government has given direction for vacating such encroached lands.

Responding to the request of the Higher Education Department, which had brought this issue to the notice of Chief Minister Siddharamaiah, he has passed an order for vacating the lands.

More than 20 acres of land has been encroached in the Manasagangothri Campus belonging to University of Mysore, which had celebrated its centenary last year. It is estimated that the prevailing market rates is more than Rs. 100 crore for this 20 acres.

The University campus is spread over 739 acres and in the encroached lands, a layout with few buildings, park and a temple has come up. A few influential persons have encroached the land, formed sites, and distributed it. A few of those who purchased these sites have also built houses.

Higher Education Minister Basavaraj Rayareddy disclosing this to the media here yesterday, said that the Chief Minister had given a green signal for vacating the encroached lands. A meeting of Revenue Department officials, District in-Charge Minister, District Administration and top Police officials will be held and then action will be taken, he added.

A blue print has already been prepared regarding the encroached lands. Based on this, the lands will be vacated. If there are temples and mosques, the responsibility for them will rest with the Universities. The Government will vacate the remaining lands, said Rayareddy.

In Bangalore University campus, 100 acres of land has been encroached. On this land, an extension, burial ground, temple, commercial complex and a petrol bunk have come up. A few of the high profile people have also established a hi-tech hospital, schools and colleges, he revealed. Based on the details provided by the Universities, a meeting was held on December 19 last, an action plan was drawn, and blue print prepared. The CM, reacting to the suggestion of the Department, has directed for an immediate action, he said.

The Higher Education Dept. with the cooperation from other Departments will recover the encroached lands, he added.