Graveyard among encroachments on BU land

A graveyard, a commercial complex, private layouts, a dumping yard, temples, a granite factory, an educational institute and independent bungalows are illegally housed in the Jnanabharathi campus of Bangalore University (BU). This was revealed in a report prepared by BU after Higher Education Minister Basavaraj Rayaraddi convened a meeting in December 2016 to take stock of the encroachments on the 1,112-acre campus. The university has compiled pictures and documents of the encroachments. However, authorities are yet to identify the total area that has been encroached. They have sought help from the district administration for a detailed re-survey before removing the encroachments. BU was allotted land in Kenchenahalli, Mallathalli, Nagadevanahalli, Nagarabhavi, Nayandahalli and Pantharapalya. A part of the of the land that the university claims is encroached is under litigation. “The status of land in these cases is dependent on the court’s verdict, but a majority of the encroached land is not under litigation. We want to begin the encroachment removal drive soon to protect the property of the university,” a BU official said. Sources pointed out that once the report is submitted, the Higher Education Minister will convene a meeting with the Revenue Secretary, Bangalore Urban Deputy Commissioner, officials of the Bangalore Development Authority and the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike to chalk out the future course of action. In 2012, the university started a drive to remove encroachments but stopped midway allegedly due to political pressure. “This time, we have decided to take help of the State government and the district administration to ensure success for the drive,” an official said.

Some of the land has been leased to the Sports Authority of India, National Assessment and Accreditation Council, National Law School of India University and Institute of Social and Economic Change.