DK Shivakumar Orders Ban on Land Denotification by Planning Authorities

Bengaluru: Bengaluru Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar has directed planning agencies, including the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA), to refrain from denotifying land acquired for various developmental projects. Additionally, he has instructed officials to report any requests from allottees seeking alternative plots in BDA-developed layouts directly to him, asserting strict oversight on such matters.

No Denotification of Acquired Land
In a directive issued on 28th August, the Urban Development Department (UDD), led by Additional Chief Secretary SR Umashankar, conveyed these instructions to key planning authorities. Besides the BDA, the Bangalore Metropolitan Region Development Authority (BMRDA) and the Ramanagara Urban Development Authority were also included in the order. The directive explicitly prohibits denotification of any acquired land under any circumstances.

The Deputy Chief Minister’s strong stance on this matter underscores the government’s effort to prevent misuse of public land and ensure that all land acquisition follows a transparent process. Shivakumar’s warning to officials highlights the seriousness of this issue, with clear consequences outlined for lapses in adherence to the new directive.

Compulsory Approval for Alternate Plot Requests
Shivakumar emphasised that any proposal to grant alternative plots must be reviewed and brought to his attention before initiating correspondence. “If there are any proposals for giving alternative plots, it has to be compulsorily brought to my attention before starting any correspondence,” Shivakumar stated in his communication. This ensures that no decisions regarding alternate land allotment are made without proper scrutiny.

The move is designed to maintain control over land allocations and ensure compliance with legal frameworks governing the process. Given the substantial rise in land values across various regions of Bengaluru, Shivakumar’s directive aims to prevent irregularities and corruption in the allocation of alternative plots.

Supreme Court’s Guidelines on Alternative Allotments
While land denotification remains illegal, the Supreme Court has permitted the allotment of alternative plots, albeit under strict conditions. According to the court’s ruling, such plots can only be allocated in newly developed layouts like the Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Layout, which is still undergoing development. The court has strictly prohibited the allocation of alternate sites in older layouts, where land values have seen a sharp increase, thus preventing potential misuse of the system to gain prime properties.

This ruling ensures that the allocation process remains fair and does not disproportionately benefit certain individuals or groups. By restricting alternate allotments to newer layouts, the government can safeguard public land and resources, ensuring that developmental projects are not hampered by unnecessary land claims.

Controlling Rising Land Value and Denotification Challenges
The prohibition of denotification and the emphasis on careful monitoring of alternative plot allotments come at a time when Bengaluru’s land value is soaring, particularly in well-established layouts. Denotification had previously been a contentious issue, with accusations that it was sometimes used to allow private parties to reclaim highly valuable land at the expense of public projects.

By ensuring alternative plots are provided only in newer layouts, the government also helps regulate property markets, keeping land prices from escalating further in established regions.

Government’s Commitment to Preventing Lapses
Shivakumar’s directive reflects the Karnataka government’s commitment to ensuring transparency and accountability in land acquisition and allotment processes. His warning that officers responsible for lapses will face serious consequences further strengthens this position. It sends a strong message to all involved agencies and officials, indicating that any breach in procedure or misuse of power will be dealt with severely.

Given the history of land disputes and denotification issues in Bengaluru, this move aims to restore public confidence in the governance of urban development projects.

Conclusion
Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar’s strong measures to curb the denotification of acquired land and ensure the fair distribution of alternative plots demonstrate the Karnataka government’s determination to maintain transparency in urban development. By adhering to Supreme Court guidelines and carefully monitoring land allotments, the government seeks to prevent exploitation of the system and safeguard public land for developmental purposes.