BJP MLC smells land scam at Shivanasamudra, seeks probe

MYSORE: A controversial order by former Chamarajnagar district magistrate and DC could make Bharachukki Falls out of bounds to tourists and pose threat to fragile ecology in the region located close to the confluence of the Western Ghats and the Eastern Ghats, BJP MLC G Madhusudana said on Saturday petitioning CM Siddaramaiah to intervene.
He asked punitive action against IAS officer M V Savithri, who was formerly district magistrate of Chamarajnagar."The state government should step in and cancel the order issued by Savithri disposing a petition claiming ownership of land surrounding Bharachukki falls. Her order could make the tourist spot a private property," Madhusudana said. According to him, influential persons are behind the scam and sought a CBI probe. Commonly called as Shivanasamudra Falls, Bharachukki falls forms twin with Gaganachukki Falls, which is located in Mandya district bordering Chamarajnagar district.
The MLC, who took on his party colleague SA Ramdas, the former minister, over Chamundi Hills land scam, said: "The order issued by Savithri should be cancelled immediately. The principal secretary (revenue) can do that. The CM should step in and direct the official concerned to act."
Madhusudana released the copies of the letter he has written to the CM, which includes the Savithri's controversial order of July 8, which overturned the order of assistant commissioner, Kollegal, order dated December 13, 2011. The controversy pertains to ownership of a little over 5,100 acres in survey number 1 and 174 in Sattegala in Kollegal taluk. The AC in his order has said that it is government land, which was questioned by a bunch of petitioners before the then DC Savithri. According to the AC, the 1,360 acres in survey number 1 is forest land where Cauvery river forms an island and falls over a cliff called Bharachukki falls. He has said in his 2011 order that 4,000 acres in survey number 174 is the forest land. According to the MLC, though the high court asked the DC to look into the claims of the petitioners and decide whether it is forest land, she overstepped her brief and has ruled that they are not government land. This is done with mala fide intention, he said.
There are land records to specify that these belonged to the government. In an order issued by the Union ministry of environment and forests in 2005 during allotting a small portion of the land in survey number 1 to build a mini-hydel power generation unit, it has said that 'the legal status of forest land shall remain unchanged.'
In February 1999, when the forest department approached the revenue officials to clear encroachment on survey number 174, it has classified it as forest area, he stated. Besides, she has allowed other petitioners to appeal before her without verifying their claim over the prime property. The MLC said he did some groundwork and visited the spot, where, he said, acres of land are fenced illegally. This is nothing but encroachment, he said.
The MLC accused Hanur MLA R Narendra of pressurizing the then DC to mark the prime land as not belonging to the government. Sattegala is part of Hanur assembly segment. Madhusudana said Narendra, a Congress MLA, pressed Savithri to delist survey number 174 to allow illegal occupation. That the issue is still unresolved for three decades makes him complicit. Even his father and former minister Raju Gowda stands accused, he said. When contacted, Narendra denied his involvement. "I've no interest in either survey number 1 or 174 and have not influenced civil servants." He said survey number 1 is the government property and it is clear from the records. "Savithri's order is wrong," he said. "I will protest in case the prime government land is allotted to the private parties," he said.