Nanjangud: In an early morning operation on Monday, the Nanjangud Taluk Administration headed by Tahsildar Mohanakumari cleared encroachment of Government lands along Chamarajanagar By-pass Road near Srikanteshwaraswamy Temple in the town.

The land that was cleared was in front of Mahadeshwara Palace lodging and came under Survey No. 12. Even as the encroachment clearance went on, the Lodge owner Manjunath, also a former City Municipal Council (CMC) Member, came to the spot and entered into a verbal duel with the officials saying that the earlier Tahsildar had recorded that there was no encroachment in the area. Manjunath also argued that the Taluk Administration was acting under political pressure and was out to declare the land on which his lodge had come up, as an encroached piece of land.

Tahsildar Mohanakumari said that she was acting under the direction of the Deputy Commissioner (DC) and had come for clearance of Government land encroachments based on Government records. She further said that there was no question of stopping the encroachment clearance operation.

Former MLA Kalale Keshavamurthy too arrived at the spot and questioned the Tahsildar’s action. He wanted to know why the clearance operation was being carried out in such a hurry.

Tahsildar Mohanakumari said that encroached lands were identified in Survey No.12, following which notices were served on the encroachers. 

But as there was no response, the Taluk Administration was forced to clear the encroachments, she said and added that a letter will be written to the DC on the construction of a Lodge on encroached land. She further said that there are several other encroachments of Government lands and they too will be cleared on a priority, she added.