Devanahalli legislator accused of land-grab

Published: Saturday, Nov 3, 2012, 17:22 IST

By DNA Correspondent | Place: Bangalore | Agency: DNA

Devanahalli legislator K Venkateswamy has been accused of trying to usurp 640 acres of government land. N Nagaraj, president of the Aklenahalli-Mallenahalli Scheduled Caste and Tribes Destitutes’ Samithi (AMSCTDS) , on Friday alleged that Venkataswamy has been trying to grab government land by forming a taluk-level Jagruti Samiti.

“Venkataswamy has been distributing the government land for his supporters to get political mileage. Many outsiders have been given sites through the Jagruthi Samithi,’’ said Nagaraj.

Coming down heavily on village panchayat president, executive officer of the panchayat for colluding with the MLA, the AMSCTDS president said 25 families, who have been staying in the area for many years, have been denied shelter but people who can afford to bribe gram panchayat officials have been allotted sites.

‘’Earlier, the land was encroached by late MS Ramaiah family members. Later, we approached the high court to direct the authorities concerned to clear the encroachment. Now, the MLA, instead of selecting the poorest of the poor for allotment of sites, has been indulging in corrupt practices,’’ he alleged.

Venkataswamy, however, denied the allegations and asserted that he has no right to allot government land to his supporters. “I have received some complaints against the gram panchayat selecting some beneficiaries by mistake. I have already sent the file of allottees to the gram panchayat to rectify the anomalies,’’ he said.

The MLA, instead, argued that the AMSCTDS has been politicising the issue. “I advise them to attend meetings conducted at the village level to identify the beneficiaries. There will be no use if the go on making allegations,’’ he said.

http://www.dnaindia.com/bangalore/report_devanahalli-legislator-accused-of-land-grab_1759762