Bengaluru: The Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) has sought urgent intervention by the state govt to resolve the prolonged dispute over the buffer zone surrounding Turahalli forest, warning that the issue had triggered confusion and anxiety among hundreds of site allottees in south Bengaluru.According to village-wise data collected after a drone survey by BDA early this month, 480 BDA sites now fall within the buffer zone, a sharp reduction from earlier estimate of over 1,550 sites. The data shows 455 sites fall in Hemmigepura, and 25 in BM Kaval. The BDA urged the forest department to convene an urgent meeting of senior officials from both departments to arrive at a permanent solution for these 480 sites.Over 1,550 BDA site owners in Banashankari 6th Stage were left in limbo after the forest department flagged parts of the layout as falling within the Turahalli forest buffer zone, stalling construction and property transactions. The area comprises over 20,500 sites spread across 14 blocks. The BDA said layouts from Block 1 to Block 11 of Banashankari 6th Phase were formed more than two decades ago after legally acquiring land under govt orders issued in 2000 and 2001. It said compensation was paid and layouts were developed across villages, including Ganakal, Lingadiranahalli, Sompura, Turahalli and Hemmigepura in Kengeri Hobli, Bengaluru South taluk, covering about 1,598 acres and 2 guntas. A site owner from 4th Block said he had invested Rs 1.5 crore in 2016-17, nearly a decade ago, but is now stuck today, unable to sell or start any construction and with no alternative or remedies from authorities.
“Many of us have put in our hard-earned savings, taken home loans, and paid EMIs, but nothing has moved despite repeated representations and even a forum taking up the matter,” he had earlier said.According to the authority, houses were constructed on several sites in the 3rd and 5th blocks of Banashankari 6th Phase, particularly after 2005, without any objection from the forest department at the time. BDA records show 40 houses in the 3rd Block and 17 houses in the 5th Block were built on sites that are now classified as falling within the buffer zone. However, after 2019, the forest department began objecting to construction activity in several land parcels in Hemmigepura, Turahalli, Lingadiranahalli and Anise village, with NOCs still pending in some cases, claiming more than 16 acres were encroached upon. A senior BDA official said: “A joint meeting held in Dec saw the forest department raise concerns about encroachment beyond the sanctioned forest area and seek a detailed survey to ascertain whether land was encroached upon.
The Sept survey report submitted by BDA was not accepted, so we carried out a drone survey again this month.” The official added: “When we conducted a detailed drone survey with precise data, we found many sites were not actually in buffer zones, which is a big relief for allottees. Once the meeting with the forest officials is done, we will be able to resolve the buffer zone matter. The drone survey is a major positive step, as the number of sites came down drastically from 1,554 to 480.” Commenting on the issue, a senior official from the forest department said: “After a recent survey, the number of problematic sites came down. We are still discussing what can and cannot be done in accordance with the Forest Conservation Act, and we will be meeting them next week to explore possible solutions. It is encouraging many of the sites earlier under dispute are now cleared.”
