Bengaluru: Karnataka Upa Lokayukta Justice (Retd.) B. Veerappa has directed officials from the Mandya District Revenue Department, Cauvery Neeravari Nigam Limited (CNNL) and the Tourism Department to evict illegal hotels, resorts and other structures that have come up along the banks of the Cauvery River flowing through Srirangapatna taluk.

Justice Veerappa, who visited Srirangapatna on May 27, inspected the riverbanks and observed rapid encroachment on both sides of the river.

He subsequently instructed the Srirangapatna Tahsildar and CNNL officials to remove the encroachments and submit a report.

Following this, a team led by Srirangapatna Tahsildar Chetana Yadav and CNNL Engineer V. Jayanth evicted a private resort and a commercial building along the Bangaradoddi Canal on Oct. 8.

Government lands leased

The team also noted that several parts of ‘Kharab’ (Government) lands along the Cauvery River had been leased to private parties by certain departments, while the Urban Development Department had alienated some parcels of land to private individuals.

The Srirangapatna Town Panchayat had subsequently issued licences for construction on these lands. Based on these findings, the Tahsildar submitted a detailed report to the Upa Lokayukta.

In light of the report, Justice Veerappa ordered CNNL officials, the Assistant Director of Land Records, Srirangapatna, the Tahsildar, Town Panchayat CEO, and Deputy Director of Tourism to clear all encroachments along the Cauvery riverbank.

Bangaradoddi Canal

According to the Tahsildar’s report, hotels, resorts and other structures along Bangaradoddi Canal Road, in front of Chandravana Ashram and falling under Survey Number 174, were built illegally within the 30-metre buffer zone from the high-flood level of the Cauvery River and without any license.

Citing this, the Upa Lokayukta directed officials to demarcate the buffer zone clearly, remove all encroachments and mark the high-flood boundary of the river.

Responding to public complaints regarding noise pollution from crackers and high-decibel DJ music at hotels, bars, and restaurants near the river at Balamuri, which have allegedly been set up without licences, the Upa Lokayukta also asked the Mandya Deputy Commissioner and SP to take appropriate action.

The noise pollution reportedly disturbs migratory birds in the nearby Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary and wildlife at Goolithittu in Puttayyanakoppal, Pandavapura taluk.