BARRICADED: The scene at Sharadamma Layout in Domlur after the Army closed the road on Thursday. — Photo: K. Murali Kumar

BANGALORE: You may call it an island in the middle of a city on a plateau. For the residents of a small pocket called Sharadamma Layout in Domlur, going out of their homes and getting back became difficult on Thursday. And, not just because of the traffic on the adjacent airport road or inner ring road either.

Early morning, the army authorities decided the road connecting the layout is on their lands and promptly erected makeshift barricades with brambles and boulders on both end of it. The adjacent land does belong to them from where they pump out water.

Many of the residents of the layout who occupy 15 independent houses and 22 flats moved in more than 15 years ago. In fact, the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike's sanctioned plan for the layout clearly shows the road was approved in 1989.

"We never had an inkling that the road itself belongs to the Defence people... we have always used it,'' upset residents said. They have no alternative passage; this unpaved road connects with the ring road at one end and with Domlur proper at the other end and it is their only link with the rest of the city where they have to work, shop and send their children too.

The residents approached the BMP Commissioner, K. Jothiramalalingam, who found he could not easily convince the Army authorities about the need to keep the road open. The Army officials have said that the strip where the road is has always belonged to them and that no legal right-of-way was ever given.

The residents have other problems too. Though the BMP collects property taxes amounting to about Rs. 30 lakhs annually from them; all have valid title deeds and other documents. But the road in question was never asphalted and the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board has not provided them water and sewerage connections yet. Bangalore Electricity Supply Company has provided streetlights. The only civic amenity they have.

"Our only hope is that the Mahanagara Palike and the Army settle the matter between themselves,'' said the residents of this layout which is considered `upmarket" by Bangalore standards.

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