Bengaluru: Here is a classic example of how public properties in Bengaluru, meant for public purpose, are under private control. It is about the prime land situated adjacent to Millers Road at Vasanthnagar which is under control of Mount Carmel College since 1958 thus depriving public, especially children of Vasanthnagar, to use it for sports or any cultural activities.
It all happened with the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA), the then City Improvement Trust Board, executing a lease agreement on December 2, 1958 with Mount Carmel College allowing the latter to use the land measuring 11,333 sq meters for sports activities.
Now, what is all the more surprising is that when Mount Carmel pays a mere Rs one as rent for the said land in prime location, it collects Rs 6,000 for three hours for renting out the land for general public for usage.
“I paid Rs 15,000 per day to conduct sports for children from Vasanth Nagar,’’ said B R Naidu, president, Vasanthnagar Residents’ Welfare Association.
Meanwhile, the BDA, on December 1, 1988 renew the lease agreement with Mount Carmel College for 30 years and revised the rent for the ground. The BDA’s finance department fixed Rs 945 as a rent per year and directed Mount Carmel College to pay Rs 2,68,63,041 (including arrears and interest amount due for many years) for 30 years. Instead of paying the rent as per the norms, Mount Carmel College management approached the High Court seeking a direction to the BDA. (The High Court disposed the petition on December 5, 2014, directing the BDA to consider the representation submitted by the petitioner on September 3, 2012 and take a decision thereon, within three months). It also claimed that lease period was for 99 years and not for 30 years. It produced a document (letter dated May 6, 1961) from the then chairman of City Improvement Trust Board V P Deenadayalu Naidu. Interestingly the original lease agreement has no details about the lease period. The letter was given by Deenadayalu Naidu after 30 months of executing the original lease agreement. Mount Carmel College management (letter dated September 3, 2012) claimed that though the said lease period was agreed to be for a period of 99 years, by oversight the period of lease was not stipulated in the said agreement.
The Principal of Mount Carmel College in a letter (dated: November 17, 2012) to the Commissioner, BDA, claimed that Mount Carmel College started in 1948 had completed well over 60 years not only in academics but also in games and sports. “Regarding activities in sports, the management was able to construct a track on the land leased to the college by the City Trust Board for a stadium and later to build a pavilion as well. We request you sir, to kindly permit us to retain this land or gift it to us in lieu of the services rendered to the women of our country or could you at least sell it to us for a nominal cost,’’ the principal said in the letter.
However, the track on the ground and chain-link fence around the ground was provided by the then MP C K Jaffer Sharief at an estimated cost of Rs 12,34,350 in the year 2002-03 under the Members of Parliament Local Area Development (MPLAD) scheme.
Meanwhile, many residents of Vasanthanagar are of the opinion that authorities concerned should take measures to reclaim the ground from Mount Carmel College and allow the public to use it. “There is ample space at Mount Carmel College premises to conduct sports activities for girl students. I do not know why Mount Carmel College management wants this play ground that is situated one km away from the college. It will be tough for the girl students to come all the way from the college and participate in the games at this playground. It is not safe for the girl students to walk on this busy road,’’ says B R Naidu.
