Kharge-linked Trust's Plea Over Use of Park Land Raises Concerns

Days after the Siddhartha Vihara Trust, in which AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge and minister Priyank Kharge are trustees, sought to change the use of land in Kusanur village, Kalaburagi Taluk, from a designated park zone to commercial use, the local stakeholders have urged the local body to reject the application.

- Arun Dev

BENGALURU:

The Kalaburagi Urban Development Authority (KUDA) on February 10 issued a public notice seeking response to the proposed conversion, triggering opposition from local stakeholders.

This comes months after the same trust had returned land in Hi-Tech Defence and Aerospace Park in Bagalur in Bengaluru following a controversy.

The two-acre and seven-gunta plot in question falls under the Revised-2 Master Plan and was initially reserved for a park. However, the Siddhartha Vihara Trust applied for its reclassification for commercial purposes in January, citing the failure of the KUDA to acquire the land under Section 69(2) of the Karnataka Town and Country Planning Act, 1961.

According to the application, the change would support "urban development, provide essential infrastructure, generate employment, and create housing opportunities."

The land conversion proposal has been opposed by local stakeholders who raised concerns over the impact on public welfare and environmental sustainability. Prominent among the objectors is national honorary president of Sri Ram Sene Siddalinga Swami, who has formally appealed to KUDA to reject the conversion.