A collective of like-minded organizations has made a fervent plea to the Lokayukta, urging them to intervene and prevent the Mangaluru Urban Development Authority (Muda) or any other relevant department from issuing Transferable Development Rights (TDR) for 10.8 acres of land targeted for acquisition by the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) in Kudupu village.
The call for action comes in the wake of recent developments where Mangaluru Lokayukta police apprehended Muda commissioner Mansoor Ali and broker Mohammad Salim on allegations of accepting a hefty bribe of Rs 25 lakh. The duo stands accused of soliciting bribes in exchange for facilitating the issuance of a TDR certificate for the aforementioned 10.8-acre parcel in Kudupu village.
In a memorandum submitted to the Lokayukta, Muneer Katipalla, the convenor of the joint forum of like-minded organizations, vehemently objected to the MCC’s plans for land acquisition through TDR. Katipalla emphasized the illegality of MCC’s decision and asserted the necessity to challenge it at both governmental and judicial levels. Moreover, he demanded swift and strict punishment for officials involved in such corrupt practices.
Typically, smaller land plots are acquired for urgent infrastructure development projects like roads and drains, often in exchange for TDR to expedite the acquisition process. However, given the ongoing bribery case and the questionable nature of the acquisition, the forum insists that the Lokayukta bar Muda and other entities from issuing TDR for the disputed 10.8 acres until the matter is resolved.
