The Corporation says it is unaware of when the land was encroached upon adding it stumbled upon the encroachment only in 1997 when it tried to widen a drain near the Yeshwantpur-Yelahanka bridge in Mathikere. When the BCC tried to find out if the land adjoining the drain could be used for widening purposes, it realised the land originally belonged to the BCC but was encroached upon for private purposes.

Following this, the BCC conducted an inquiry and an interim report was submitted in December 1997. The report stated that the land was encroached upon by a reputed trust running educational institutions and tombs were built on the site.

Based on the interim report, the BCC Commissioner submitted a final report in July 1998 to the State Government to acquire the propertyand directed the Bangalore Metropolitan Task Force (BMTF) and the Chief Engineer (West) to clear the encroachments and take possession of the property.

The BMTF and the CE along with Deputy Commissioner (Estates) inspected the land in November 1998 and decided to conduct another survey following a representation from the trust for further inspection of the land. The trust claimed the land in question was not encroached upon.

The second survey, which has been completed, has also pointed out that the land was encroached upon and said the BCC should take possession of the property. Admitting this, DC (Estates) Vishwanatha Reddy said he had told the BCC monthly meeting in December that the Corporation would initiate measures to acquire the land.

When The Indian Express contacted Reddy, he refused to comment on the issue and only said all the facts were presented in the interim report. ``Whatever I had to say about the issue, I have already mentioned in the interim report submitted in December 1997and also the Council meeting. I have nothing to add'', he said. Neither the interim nor the final report mentioned the trust's name.

The BCC is now in a fix over acquiring the encroached land as tombs have already been constructed on the site. Sources said the issue can be solved only through a mutual exchange of land.

Inspector General of BMTF D N Munikrishna was not available for comment.