Mysuru:  The process of fencing a plot near Lalitha Mahal Helipad has continued. It is learnt that a person is on that job for the last four or five days. The fixing of poles has been completed and it is believed that a chain ring mesh would be used shortly to fence the area. Hence in future there will be no access to the said cordoned plot for either government or non-government organisation to stage programmes.

One S. Meenakshi is claiming that the area belongs to her which spans about 7 acres which includes a portion of the helipad also. The GPA (General Power of Attorney) holder of the site K. Manu said that garbage was being dumped in the area which was also being unauthorisedly used for a few programmes. He  claimed that the fencing would put an end to such misuse and protect the site which will be used to develop a plantation. Manu further said that PWD officials, along with Police personnel, came to the site yesterday and asked him to stop the fencing work.

He contended that the documents to ascertain the ownership were shown to the officials to claim that the fencing was being done only to protect the area and prevent any illegal usage during Dasara festivities. He added that the officials had appealed him to leave 3 mts of width in helipad while fencing the area which was complied.

Incidentally, Meenakshi had put up a sign board at the site saying, “DC has notified that 1,563 acres and 31 guntas of land in Kurubarahalli Sy. No. 4, Kasaba hobli, Mysuru taluk, has been classified under ‘B-Kharab.’ Out of that 7 acres of land in A and C Block belongs to me and High Court had accordingly stayed the DC’s order.” She is said to have submitted a memorandum to the DC, Tahsildar and PWD to ensure that the said land is not utilised without her permission.

Ownership of land at Lalitha Mahal Helipad: DC must act decisively

N.A.K. Ballal, former General Manager of Lalitha Mahal Palace Hotel, recalled that 15 years ago, a group of 50 people had come forward to erect a fence in front of the hotel. “When I questioned the person who claimed to be the owner of the land, he showed some documents. I immediately informed the then DC Selvakumar. On DC’s instruction, the then Tahsildar with Police protection arrived on the spot and got the fencing process stopped and evicted the people.”

“The same area is being fenced again. If the so-called owner is the same, why the person was silent for 15 years. Earlier the concept of ‘B-Kharab’ was not there and the ownership claimant could have easily produced to relevant documents to the DC and got possession of the land.”

“The land is worth hundreds of crores of rupees. Of late, cases of encroaching upon land fabricating documents have been on the rise. The DC should consider this case seriously and take necessary step after closely scrutinising the documents,” asserted Ballal.

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