MYSURU: In its report on the investigation into the Mysore Urban Development Authority (Muda) case involving chief minister Siddaramaiah, his wife BM Parvathi and others, Mysuru Lokayukta sleuths revealed the authority allotted 1,055 sites under the controversial 50:50 scheme between 2016 and 2024. The report was submitted last week to a special court in Bengaluru which deals with cases involving elected representatives.
Lokayukta has sought the court’s permission to investigate the allotment of these sites. If the court agrees, Lokayukta police say other politicians and officials involved are likely to be exposed.
Under the 50:50 scheme 50% of developed sites are given to owners whose land is acquired by Muda. Between 2016 and 2024, some 135 landowners GPA holders benefited from the 1,055 sites.
Prior to the real estate boom, landowners who parted with their land were compensated with cash and one developed 30x40sqft site for every acre of land acquired. However, when real estate prices began to boom, landowners found the compensation too meagre and refused to part with their land.
To get owners to give up land, Muda decided to compensate owners with 40% of developed sites without a cash component. This then changed to the 50:50 scheme around 2016, and although rules state compensatory sites must be allotted in the same area, some Muda officials began allotting compensatory sites in upscale localities.
An official said the 50:50 scheme, which some officials began implementing in 2016, was considered an alternative to giving the same extent of land to owners. Officials also cited a high court order in 2017, which ordered the authority to return two acres of land to an owner in Bogadi in Mysuru, to back the scheme. Muda suffered a huge loss since it had spent vast sums to develop the Bogadi land.
After Siddaramaiah’s case came to light, it was alleged that Muda disposed of some 4,000 sites via the scheme, but the Lokayukta investigation has revealed that only 1,055 sites were allocated. Sources confirm no cash was involved.
In Sept last year, based on a plea by social activist Snehamayi Krishna, the special court ordered a probe into 14 sites allotted to Parvathi. The investigation ended in the second week of Feb and while it found no wrongdoing on Siddaramaiah’s part, it pointed to lapses by Muda officials.
