Land row returns to haunt BJP MLC

MYSORE: The issue of agricultural land in the eco sensitive zone of the Bandipur tiger reserve has come back to haunt the BJP MLC G Madhusudana.
The legislator is now accused of gross violation of the norms to purchase the land and its subsequent conversion, which is denied by Madhusudana.
As per the Kollegal assistant commissioner's report, the MLC fudged documents to buy agricultural land at Mangala in Gundulpet taluk and got it converted for use of non-agricultural activities.He has influenced the officials and threw the norms to the wind while purchasing the land. The land was converted for non-agricultural use in three months against the law. The MLC also laid a road in the forest area. That is the sum total of the AC's report dated June 14.
Releasing the copies of the report, Congress leader and activist M Lakshmana on Wednesday said: "The MLC's fight to protect the 2,000 acres in the foothills of Chamundi Hills is welcome. But he should explain to the AC's report too, which clearly finds him guilty on more than one count." He accused the Mysore regional commissioner M V Jayanthi of inaction as the report was submitted some five months back.
In his report, the AC has gone in detail about the land row and has suggested to attach the land. Madhusudana applied with the Nanjangud AC on January 12, 1995 seeking permission to buy the 49 acres land at Mangala, which was approved the same day. The applicant had said he is buying the land for agricultural purpose. The application was okayed without a report from Nanjangud tahasildar, which is a violation. When the applicant made the application, he claimed himself to be an agriculturalist having land at Eshwaragowdanahalli in Nanjangud taluk. But the village accountant on September 15, 1995 made a written statement to the Nanjangud AC that he was forced to enter Madhusudana's name in the records since he was ordered orally by the AC. The MLC pressurized the officials to enter his name in the records to claim that he is an agriculturalist. The land which is claimed to belong to Madhusudana is a gomala (government property). The MLC applied for conversion of 14 acres on May 5, 1995, which was approved. It is violation of the Karnatala Land Reforms Act. On May 31, 1995 the Gundulpet tahasildar wrote a letter to the Nanjangud AC to cancel the conversion pointing out that it is forest land and the official from the Bandipur tiger reserve has opposed it. Following the letter, the Mysore DC withheld the conversion order on June 3. The MLC had approached the high court against this order, which was struck down by the court, the report said.
The land bordering the tiger sanctuary was later used to set up a resort. But it doesn't have permission from the tourism department, forest department, National Board for Wildlife and the ministry of the environment and forests, the AC noted in his June report.
When contacted, the MLC said: "It is incorrect to say that I'm not an agriculturalist and the high court has upheld my contention. I've moved the HC against the cancellation of the land conversion order since it was taken unilaterally. The HC has upheld my contention for using the converted land." He accused his political opponents of targeting him pointing that the issue dates back to 1995. Why are they raking it up now? Real estate lobby is behind this report, he stated adding the case is now heard at the Mysore regional commissioner's court.