A new twist has been given to a major land issue in an old Edward Children Park along with a piece of adjoining land in Nazul in the central state of Karnataka with a land value of over 40 crore rupees being questioned over a 52-year-old property registry, the state government’s land records, and the alleged subdivision and sale of public land. The controversy focuses on about 85,000 square feet of land, but it has now come in for political interest as State Minister Lakhanlal Dewangan said that a formal investigation can be initiated.
Documents that have surfaced reveal that the two plots – 114 and 115 – were registered in Smriti Singh’s name in 1974. The registry allegedly refers to the land as “Edward Park” and “Badi Edward Park”. The Seller was Raja Virendra Bahadur Singh and Signed by Ravindra Bahadur Singh as on Authorities. The land was said to be sold at that time for only 3,000 rupees.
The controversy has flared up after the government records were recorded as public-use land such as roads, pathways, grassland and park land with the same survey number. According to maintenance records at Nazul, Plot 114 is supposed to be called Edward Children Park and Plot 115 is Badi Edward Children Park.
Investigators have started questioning the conversion and sale of land that was supposed to be for public use. A combined inquiry report says that about 85,627 square feet of land was broken up into 22 plots of land and sold to various people. Current market rates imply that the land value is in excess of ₹40 crore.
In the face of contradictory documents and a watchful public, officials are under pressure to reconsider the legality of the process and if anything went wrong in the land transfer and their development.