With the Government deciding to widen Mahadevapura road, the residents and members of Azeez Sait Road Building Owners and Tenants Association have urged the Government to provide them with alternate places before acquiring their land.

Mohammed Aleemulla Shariff, General Secretary of the Association, speaking to Star of Mysore said that they are ready to vacate the place only if the Government provided them with an alternate place first.

He said that the authorities armed with a JCB (KA-55-M-3810) razed a portion of a building without even bothering to give prior information or notice and with not even time to shift.

Shariff said that about 250 to 300 families residing in the locality would be forced to take to the streets if atrocities on them in the name of development were carried out and added that they would not vacate the land until proper rehabilitation works are not taken up.

He alleged that when the Association approached the PWD for clarification, the officials said the said land comes under Corporation limits. When they approached the Corporation and asked for a written order, they orally said that the Council had rejected the PWD order.

Shariff said that the said land consists of houses on MUDA and KHB land allotted by them while a part of the land was revenue land for which the residents have been paying taxes.

He alleged that a letter dated 23.1.2013 by the PWD says the road comes under Corporation limits while another letter dated 5.2.2013 says the PWD had made an agreement with a private contractor to take up the road widening works and added that the agreement had lapsed in 5.12.2012.

He said that the Udayagiri Police refused to register a complaint in this regard and added that a copy of the complaint has been given to the Police Commissioner’s office.

B.K.Lokesh, Vice-President of the Association, said that on July 29, 2013, the works were taken up and buildings were demolished under the supervision of local Corporator for which Udayagiri Police had provided security.

Lokesh further said that the residents, building owners and tenants are ready to give their land for the betterment of the city, only if they are provided with alternate places first and then take possession of their land.

Meanwhile Mohammed Aleem, the owner of the cycle spare parts shop which was partially demolished, said that no one bothered to give prior information about the demolition nor did anyone serve him a notice and added that due to fear of loss of materials at the shop, he shifted them the previous day.

Demands

The Association has demanded cancellation of the application seeking renewal of tender submitted by the contractor, rehabilitation of land losers first, prior notice to be given well in advance before acquiring the land, compensation be given by the authorities for demolishing the buildings without giving prior notice or intimation and the atrocities on them going on since eight years be stopped immediately and unconditionally.

The Association has said that if their demands were not met and the District Minister fails to hold a meeting to find an amicable solution to their problems, they would be forced to approach the Court in this regard.

Courtesy : Star Of Mysore