PWD gives nod to ACB to grill its engineer in TDR scam
Officials allegedly hiked land area, buildings’ value to benefit brokers
BENGALURU:
ACB officers raided four residences, including that of a BBMP official, on Tuesday in connection with the TDR scam in Bengaluru East.
The raids were conducted on MN Devaraju (Parent department PWD), Assistant Engineer, BBMP, residing at HSR Layout, KP Nagesh, mediator, residing at Kannur village, Bidarahalli hobli, B Nagaraju, mediator, residing at Yarappanahalli village, and RK Subbarao, TDR applicant and former land owner, residing at Rampura village, Bidarahalli hobli.Â
According to the ACB, some officials in collusion with private parties had fraudulently issued TDRs for a bigger area than was the case, in connection with a BBMP road widening project for the Kothanur-Avalahalli road. Meanwhile, the actual site owners have not got any compensation from the government.
Investigations have revealed that:
- The TDR application was received not from the existing owners but from the former owners.
- The revenue map of Rampur village shows 6 buildings in survey no. 149 owned by RK Subbarao. But the existing owners have built houses there since the past 25 years and have separate khatas and electricity connections.
- While valuing the 6 buildings, BBMP officials issued a DRC for 16,151.19 sq metres instead of the actual measurement of 6,314.44 sq metres.
- BBMP officials assessed the value of the old buildings by calculating as per the rates for 6-year-old buildings.
- BBMP and the government issued notifications, circulars and office notifications. These details have not been entered in the BBMP’s Property and Roads Register, and DRC No. 002639 was illegally issued on 29-08-2013.
- TDR brokers who obtained DRC No. 002639 on behalf of TDR applicants made crores in illegal gains.
- Even after granting TDR 6 years ago, the buildings have not been demolished for road widening.
About the Author
