BANGALORE: A war of words, allegations, counter allegations and dharna marred the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) Council meeting on Monday to approve subjects pertaining to development works in the city.

It all started when the Geleyara Balaga corporator M. Nagaraj alleged that several legislators from the ruling Janata Dal (Secular)-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) coalition Government in the State were involved in the encroachment of over 37 acres of BMP land in Sigehalli and Kannahalli on Magadi Road that had been identified for setting up a dumping yard.

(This was first reported in these columns on November 30 last year and the then BMP Commissioner K. Jothiramalingam had promised that the land would be recovered.)

"But more land has been encroached upon recently and over 5,000 huts have now come up there," Mr. Nagaraj said.

Other Congress members, including G. Krishnappa and the ruling party leader H. Ravindra, supported him and alleged that a four-year delay by the BMP in utilising a 37-acre piece of land allotted by the Government on Magadi Road for setting up dumping yards, had resulted in the civic body losing the land.

"We have come to know that MLAs of Magadi, Ramnagaram, Shimoga, Hassan and Shaklespur are directly involved in this encroachment. Why are our officials not doing anything to recover the land? Are they under pressure from these politicians?" Mr. Nagaraj asked.

This provoked the Opposition Janata Dal (S) and BJP members, who jumped into the well of the House and staged a dharna. Demanding an apology from the member, the Opposition leader B.R. Nanjundappa said, "Why are you making such allegations against the Government? You conduct a probe into the issue and people will know who is actually involved."

This resulted in a heated debate between the Congress and Opposition members and Mayor Mumtaz Begum was forced to adjourn the meeting for half an hour. But when the members continued the dharna after the Council reassembled, the Mayor tired to pacify them stating that she would order a Corps of Detective (CoD) probe into the matter. But the members refused to budge and she directed that the remarks made by Mr. Nagaraj be expunged from the records.

Later, BMP Commissioner K. Jairaj told the members that the land would be recovered in coordination with the Bangalore Metropolitan Task Force (BMTF) and Bangalore Urban Deputy Commissioner (M.A. Sadiq).

"After an initial enquiry, I have learnt that people affiliated to the Dalit Sangharsh Samithi (DSS) have put up huts there. As it is a sensitive matter involving a weaker section of society, I have asked the officials to prepare a list of affected people and we can ask the Slum Clearance Board to relocate them. We will have to deal with this issue carefully. But I assure you that the land will be recovered," he added.

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