Bengaluru, Dec 29 (NationPress) Following the intervention of the All India Congress Committee (AICC), the Congress-led Karnataka government has declared plans to offer alternative housing for those displaced due to the demolition drive executed on government land in Kogilu Layout, Bengaluru.

In a joint press conference, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, alongside State Congress President and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, revealed this decision after a high-level meeting.

The government stated, "Although the individuals were residing in illegally built homes, we are providing alternative housing as a humanitarian gesture."

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced that one lakh houses have been constructed specifically to assist the underprivileged.

He further mentioned, "New homes will be allocated to those who lost their sheds starting January 1, coinciding with New Year's Day. The aim is to offer alternative housing within a 7-km radius of Kogilu."

He also emphasized that strict actions will be taken against officials of the State Revenue Department and civic bodies if government land is encroached upon illegally in the future.

After consultations with Deputy Chief Minister Shivakumar, Housing Minister Zameer Ahmad Khan, Revenue Minister, and local MLA Krishna Byregowda, it was decided to allocate houses at Baiyappanahalli.

In Baiyappanahalli, in Survey No. 23, approximately 1,087 houses are available. Post verification, these houses will be assigned to the beneficiaries in multi-storey buildings. Baiyappanahalli is situated just about seven kilometers from Kogilu.

Each house has been built at an expense of nearly Rs 11.20 lakh. Subsidies from both the state and central governments are accessible for beneficiaries across general categories as well as Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

Additionally, he instructed that Rs 5 lakh per house be allocated by the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA). For those in the general category, the total subsidy amounts to Rs 8.70 lakh, while for SC/ST beneficiaries, it amounts to Rs 9.50 lakh. The remaining balance will be provided as a loan—Rs 2.5 lakh for general category and Rs 1.70 lakh for SC/ST beneficiaries. Housing Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan has committed to facilitating the loans after necessary verification.

Verification will take place over the next two days. The task of ensuring that houses are ready for occupancy by January 1 has been assigned to Housing Minister Zameer Ahmad Khan.

The Chief Minister reiterated that the provision of government-built houses to those who had illegally constructed and occupied sheds will be limited to this specific case.

He has once again mandated that stringent actions be taken against officials who permitted illegal constructions of sheds.

Siddaramaiah noted that around 167 sheds that had been illegally erected on government land at Kogilu Layout were removed on December 20.

Notices had been sent to all occupants, informing them that the land was owned by the state government and instructing them to vacate. However, they did not comply.

On Monday, I dispatched Housing Minister Zameer Ahmad Khan and his political secretary Naseer Ahmed to the site. The following day, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar also visited the area with officials.

The Chief Minister mentioned, "The Deputy Commissioner had transferred 15 acres of land to the city corporation intended for garbage disposal. A stone quarry is also located on that land, which is currently under the corporation's control for waste dumping."

It has come to light that individuals have been illegally constructing sheds and residing there since approximately 2020-21. Therefore, he has ordered actions against the Revenue Department and civic body officials. Such encroachments cannot occur without the knowledge of the tahsildar and revenue inspectors. To prevent future incidents, strict actions will be enforced against those accountable.

He expressed that clear instructions have been issued to all relevant officials to ensure that government land is not encroached upon at any cost in the future.

If houses are built illegally, the responsible officials will be held answerable. The Deputy Commissioner and civic body officials have been instructed to identify eligible individuals from those living in the illegally constructed sheds and submit a list within the next two days.

The government has determined, on humanitarian grounds, to make alternative provisions for eligible affected individuals.

Siddaramaiah noted that Congress General Secretary (Organisation) K.C. Venugopal discussed the matter with him in Delhi, and subsequently with Deputy Chief Minister Shivakumar.

He assured Congress leaders Venugopal and Shivakumar that alternative provisions would be established.

He instructed the Commissioner of the Greater Bengaluru Authority and the Secretary of the Urban Development Department to arrange food, accommodation, and temporary shelters.

Although arrangements were made at three locations, the residents did not relocate.

Siddaramaiah remarked that the issue is being politicized.

He accused the Communist Party and the Kerala Chief Minister of turning it into a political issue ahead of the upcoming Kerala Assembly elections, expected to be held in March or April 2026.

"On humanitarian grounds, we are making provisions for their accommodation. We do not condone illegal construction of houses," Siddaramaiah stated.

He also mentioned that he was unaware of the Kerala government's interest in the matter and directed inquiries to be addressed to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

"They are politicizing this. Our aim is solely to prevent illegalities," he concluded.