<p>Days after Bengaluru Urban forest officials reclaimed one acre and 38 guntas of land near the Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Layout (NPKL) — declared as encroachment by a high-level committee in 2015 — BDA officials stated that there was no encroachment on their part.</p>.<p>Earlier this month, the Forest Department took action based on a joint survey conducted by the high-level committee set up by the government in 2015. This panel identified one acre and 38 guntas of land in survey number 19 as encroached land.</p>.<p>The land in question is part of an extent of 525 acres and two guntas in Sulikere, Kommaghatta, and Maragondanahalli villages, which was declared as the ‘Sulikere Reserve Forest’ through a government order dated September 3, 1934, according to the department.</p>.<p>In a letter, BDA executive engineer (NPKL division) <br>CN Ashoka stated that the forest department land had not been encroached upon by the BDA.</p>.<p>“The forest department had erected a compound without identifying the boundary of survey number 19. A misconception had led to the idea that the BDA had encroached on forest land, which is not the case,” he stated. He further added that a joint survey with the forest officials confirmed that no structures were built in the area. The Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF) pointed to the BDA’s layout plan, specifically Block 8 of the Kempegowda Layout.</p>.<p>“The BDA’s layout plan designated it as a park for the Kempegowda Layout. We acted in accordance with the high-level committee report, which directed the recovery of the encroached forest land,” the DCF said.</p>.<p>BDA officials said the map of NPKL is yet to be finalised. A BDA official said the map was not finalised yet.</p>.<p>While acknowledging the confusion caused by a disclaimer in the map, the official said the forest land has not been changed.</p>
<p>Days after Bengaluru Urban forest officials reclaimed one acre and 38 guntas of land near the Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Layout (NPKL) — declared as encroachment by a high-level committee in 2015 — BDA officials stated that there was no encroachment on their part.</p>.<p>Earlier this month, the Forest Department took action based on a joint survey conducted by the high-level committee set up by the government in 2015. This panel identified one acre and 38 guntas of land in survey number 19 as encroached land.</p>.<p>The land in question is part of an extent of 525 acres and two guntas in Sulikere, Kommaghatta, and Maragondanahalli villages, which was declared as the ‘Sulikere Reserve Forest’ through a government order dated September 3, 1934, according to the department.</p>.<p>In a letter, BDA executive engineer (NPKL division) <br>CN Ashoka stated that the forest department land had not been encroached upon by the BDA.</p>.<p>“The forest department had erected a compound without identifying the boundary of survey number 19. A misconception had led to the idea that the BDA had encroached on forest land, which is not the case,” he stated. He further added that a joint survey with the forest officials confirmed that no structures were built in the area. The Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF) pointed to the BDA’s layout plan, specifically Block 8 of the Kempegowda Layout.</p>.<p>“The BDA’s layout plan designated it as a park for the Kempegowda Layout. We acted in accordance with the high-level committee report, which directed the recovery of the encroached forest land,” the DCF said.</p>.<p>BDA officials said the map of NPKL is yet to be finalised. A BDA official said the map was not finalised yet.</p>.<p>While acknowledging the confusion caused by a disclaimer in the map, the official said the forest land has not been changed.</p>