Landowners can testify to the circuitous bureaucracy involved in issues relating to property.
However, in Moodbidri, it is the Agriculture Department running from pillar to post in the labyrinths of the Revenue Department to ‘reclaim’ their land that has been allegedly encroached upon to construct quarters for judges.
Nearly six years ago, five cents of land was allotted to the Agriculture Department to construct a Farmer’s Contact Centre. The centre, currently functioning out of a rental building, distributes subsidised seeds, fertiliser, lime, chemicals and implements to farmers, caters to nearly 4,850 farmers in Moodbidri hobli.
However, when funds were allocated for the construction of the two-storey centre, officials of the department were “shocked” to find half their land walled off.
“During the construction of quarters for magistrates in Moodbidri, the Law Department has encroached upon this land…we cannot construct anything in the left-over land,” said an agriculture official.
‘No progress’After sending their first letter of complaint to the Moodbidri tahsildar in November 2013, the department has since approached the Assistant Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner to reclaim their land.
Though they were promised a joint survey, the department says there had been “no progress” in reclaiming the land or in allocating alternate land.
In June, the tahsildar’s office even washed its hands off the matter saying the “two departments should take responsibility and solve it themselves”.
“The attitude of the government departments is depressing. This is an important centre for farmers and yet it is being stifled by bureaucracy,” said Dhanakeerti Balipa, a farmer-activist.
EvictionAdding to the woes of the department is the eviction of the centre from the “dilapidated” rented building. “The building is slated for demolition. But we have no place to go. It took protests from farmers to ensure an extension for us,” said an officer.
At a recent zilla panchayat review meeting, Sunita S. Shetty, a member from Puttige constituency, pointed out that “leaking roofs” had destroyed stock of seeds and fertilisers that was kept at the centre, saying, “A lot of farmers are being affected by this.”
Blaming the Agriculture Department for “not cordoning their land”, Moodbidri Tahsildar Mohammad Issac said the Law Department was not willing to give up the land. “We are re-checking the documents of the land. A report will be made soon,” he said.
