Site allottees plan to move HC, want BDA wound up

BANGALORE: After farmers, it's now the turn of site allottees to vent their anger.
Fed up with the long wait for their cherished BDA site, the Arkavathy Layout site allottees' association members plan to move the high court demanding that Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) be wound up.
Prior to this, the members plan to protest in front of the BDA head office on Monday."We have been reading in the media about the various announcements by the authorities. Nothing has progressed on the ground, even after the latest government order was passed last month clearing all hurdles for layout formation. Worse, even the BDA engineer concerned says he is not aware of what next. What do we do?'' said Sanjay Marlecha, an old association member.
On a rough estimate, there are over 8,800 site allottees. The chief minister's announcement of BDA sites for the Indian cricket team has also irked many of them (the CM has since withdrawn the offer). "No doubt, it's a great gesture. But he must also show concern to us,'' they said.
DON'T WORRY: MEENA
"Yes, we have not resumed work after the farmer's protest. This does not mean that we are not serious about the layout formation. Arkavathy Layout will happen and most of the sites already measured will not be changed. We need at least another two-three months to resume our ground work,'' said BDA commissioner Bharat Lal Meena.
WILL I BUILD MY HOUSE?
In 2008, ex-serviceman S G Prakash was elated when he finally got a BDA site at Arkavathy on his second attempt. The extra 9.14 m and 12.14 m attached to his 30 feet x 40 feet site near Chelakere, he thought was a bonanza.
He got his site registered on February 26, 2008 and also got the possession certificate. Nothing happened after that.
Today, he does not even remember how much he paid for the site. Initially, work was stopped due to litigation. He finally managed to get his building plan sanctioned on July 1, 2010. But now, no bank is ready to give loan to the 77-year-old. "They think I am too old to repay it. I want to transfer it to my son's name, but the 10-year lease period bans it. I hope to see my dream home before I die,'' he said.