Encroachment, Government and the Real Estate Nexus
The recent High Court order directing the Karnataka government to clear more than 51 acres of forest land near Bengaluru International Airport underscores a recurring story in the state’s land and development politics. That the land, worth over ₹1,000 crore, had already been carved up into 700 residential sites under the glossy title “Century Sports Village” speaks to both the brazenness of the encroachment and the power of real estate players. The petitioners’ strategy was predictable: challenge the forest department’s notices, cite joint development agreements dating back nearly two decades, and attempt to cloak the encroachment in the garb of legality. The judiciary, however, cut through this smokescreen, dismissing the claims and backing the state’s authority under the Karnataka Forest Act, 1963. The judgment is a rare reminder that the law, when applied firmly, can still tilt the balance against land grabbers. But the larger question remains—how did forest land i...