After waiting for years to get the khata for properties registered in their names, residents of Sachidanandanagar near Rajarajeshwari Nagar (R.R. Nagar) turned to Gandhigiri to put their point across. Armed with roses and placards, about 50 residents met Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Commissioner Siddaiah here on Thursday and submitted a petition to urge him to give a written order to issue the khatas.
The residents alleged that their problems were a result of a conspiracy hatched by the local MLA, the Residents' Welfare Association (RWA) and BBMP officials because of which more than 600 of them had not been able to get the khatas registered in their names.
They claimed that although a civil court order and the Lokayukta had legitimised their sites, officials were insisting the 65-odd acre layout was government land.
Resident Shankara Prasad told The Hindu that some 90 residents had managed to get the khata after paying hefty bribes of Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 1 lakh. The residents said they had resorted to innovative methods to urge officials to look into their problem as all their previous pleas had fallen on deaf years, like 85-year old B.M. Annegowda who has been fighting for justice for 15 years.
After hearing them out, the Commissioner instructed Special Commissioner K.R. Niranjan to study the entire file and assured the residents that he would give them an answer in two days.
He refused to comment on the accused officials.
