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Muzrai Department Accused Of Encroaching Heritage Tank To Help Builder?

  • Endowment Department accused of putting road to help land developers near heritage tank.
  • The temple tank dates back to 17 century.
  • The Muzrai Tasildhar says, the report is false as 1 acre and 33 guntas of tank land is intact.
  • The idea of road was cancelled in 2013 and now Infosys is helping to develop the heritage tank.
Muzrai Department accused of encroaching heritage tank to help builder
Author
Bengaluru, First Published Jun 1, 2017, 10:06 PM IST

 

The endowment department that looks after the welfare of temples is accused of building road coming up in heritage tank in Vasanthapura built by Shahaji Raje Bhonsle in 17th century.

The department is accused of putting up road and also covering part of heritage tank to help the developer. One of activist who is fighting to protect the lake says, the Vasantha Vallbharaya Temple built by Maratha king Shivaji’s father by Shahaji Raje Bhonsle in 17th century. He alleged that now, construction is in the heritage tank by altering the survey map.

“I suspect that,  road widening work in Kalyani is help builders who have project close to lake,” said and activist. The activist also alleged that, the department has now altered the survey to cover their wrong doing.

Refuting to the allegations, P Dinesh, Tasildhar, Muzrai Department says, the report is totally false and Muzrai department has not put any road on Kalyani to help builders. It will make only pathway around Kalyani.

“Earlier in 2013, there was a proposal to put 40 feet road on east side, but the locals had given complaint to endowment department saying that, it is a heritage structure and there is no question of any construction. We dropped the idea of putting any road in 2013 itself,” he said Dinesh.

 

 

He further added that now, Sudha Murthy’s Infosys Foundation is helping in development of tank with Rs 2 crore fund.  “If we had done anything wrong why will Infosys come to help?. We already have given clarification and now Kalyani development work is going on,”he said.He further added that, the tank area measures 1 acre 33 guntas and it is intact. The tank area will also have good landscaping.

 

 

When  Newsable asked the State Archeological Survey Department about the allegations of alleged government hand in ruining heritage tank, he claimed that he is not aware of any such issues and said , “ I know about the heritage tank and temple in Vasanthapura but have not heard about any encroachment and destructions near temple tank,” he said.

Shobha Gowda, Corporator of Vasanthapura Ward said, there were attempts to make roads earlier and a builder by name Santosh Naidu approached the department for road to be made next to Kalyani. "He wanted have an access to his properties but due to the protest by residents, the idea was dropped 4 years back. Now only Kayani is being developed. Instead of road in 40 feet, landscaping will come up,"  she said.

Questioning the logic behind the landscaping and pathway, Ram Prasad from Friends Of Lake says, the NGT has stated that there should be no construction and development around any water bodies and the Kalyani, culverts and lakes all fall under the same category and hence, the department need better explanation. "The revenue department should carryout a survey and give a report. As they are the real custodian of government land, they will have maps which can give much details and  claims made by Muzrai department of not altering heritage land can be verified too," he said. 

 

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