An operation to remove unlawfully constructed buildings on government land near the Collector’s office in Hospet was conducted on Friday morning, spearheaded by Collector MS Diwakar. Under police protection, the operation commenced around 5.30 am. In addition to the Collector, Sub-Divisional Officer Nongdai Muhammad Ali Akram Shah, Municipal Commissioner BT Bandivaddar, Tehsildar Vishwajit Mehta, and other officials were present at the site.
Over ten structures, including a multi-story building, several huts, and an under-construction hotel building, were demolished using JCBs. These buildings had been utilized as a fish collection center.
Addressing the media, District Collector Diwakar explained, “This is government-owned land. Records clearly show that the buildings were erected through land encroachment. A special committee, led by the Tehsildar, concluded that these structures were illegal just last year. Notably, a building was rapidly under construction recently, prompting the need for this operation.”
“Engaging in the sale or purchase of government land is incorrect. Some individuals deceived and sold this land. If banks had conducted proper due diligence during loan approvals, they would have discovered that this land was government-owned. The property owners are now facing consequences for embarking on construction without legal counsel,” he added.
Diwakar emphasized that the government had allocated the land for Tungabhadra canal and irrigation purposes, clarifying that it did not belong to the Tungabhadra Board but was entirely government-owned land. The buildings that had encroached upon this government land have now been cleared. He issued a stern warning against any future encroachments on government land within Hospet city.
Yallappa, the owner of one of the buildings at the site of the operation, responded, “My mother purchased this land in 1994, and there was a prior dispute over this property. In 2006, a court ruling favored us, and we obtained city council permission to construct the hotel building.”
Fraudulent Land Transactions
It is evident that 35 years ago, government land was manipulated through document forgery and deceitful sales, and even those who purchased the land fell victim to this deception. In the past, some municipal employees faced consequences for their involvement in such fraudulent activities. Presently, road expansion work on T. B. Dam Road near the District Collector’s Office is ongoing, accompanied by the construction of a footpath. These illegal structures posed an impediment to the footpath construction. The presence of an illegal building near the District Collector’s office had raised eyebrows, ultimately leading to the eviction operation on Friday.
