The first ever project of Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) for developing a mega residential township roping in farmers as partners is facing hurdles with landowners seeking a larger share of developed land for parting with their farmland for the multi-crore project.
More than 350 acres of land had been identified at Ballahalli for developing the layout with about 6,000 sites in various dimensions. With land acquisition issues frequently running into troubles and delaying projects, MUDA resolved to develop the Ballahalli Township with farmers as partners and give away developed land to them instead of cash compensation which was done in the past in other projects.
Another issue that has come in the way of the project is around 60-70 acres of ‘gomala’ land within the area identified for the project. With the gomala land falling under the constituency represented by Minister in-charge of Mysuru district G.T. Deve Gowda, MUDA requested him to speak to the landowners and persuade them to be partners and agree to give away lands.
As the list of site aspirants has over a lakh applicants waiting for years, the authority had to take up more projects and distribute more sites to aspirants.
“Unless gomala land is part of the project, it will be difficult to develop and complete the layout. The owners of the gomala land have been consulted and requested to be part of the project. A meeting with the District Minister is likely to happen after the Belagavi Legislative session,” said MUDA Commissioner P.S. Kantharaju.
The Commissioner told The Hindu that the farmers (not gomala land owners) had been demanding 11,000-12,000 sq. ft. of developed land for an acre of land and MUDA is of the view that the project would become unviable if the demand was considered.
“MUDA has proposed to offer 9,000 sq.ft. of developed land,” Mr. Kantharaju said, adding that the owners of 285 acres of farmland had resolved to give up their lands but were seeking a higher residential component which has become a bone of contention, delaying the project. Also, MUDA has resolved to take up a survey of the gomala land and also check the revenue records of these lands before holding any consultations with landholders, he added.
When Minister for Housing and Urban Development U.T. Khader was here recently in connection with ‘MUDA Adalat’, he had instructed officials to expedite the projects after site aspirants took a dig at MUDA for keeping them waiting for years.
