MDA plans auction of reclaimed land

Mysuru: The Mysuru Development Authority (MDA) has reclaimed around 150 acres of encroached land in and around Mysuru over the last one year, and now it plans to convert the recovered properties into residential sites, which it plans to auction.The reclaimed land, which is located in developed layouts, was originally acquired by the authority several decades ago. Compensation was paid to the landowners at the time, but over the years many parcels were illegally occupied and remained tied up due to legal disputes.According to MDA in-charge commissioner KR Rakshith, who is special land acquisition officer of MDA, 17 such encroachments were cleared since May 2025. Some of these occupations were recent, while others continued for a long time. Now we will plan to develop the reclaimed land and auction it, Rakshith revealed.Rakshith said a major portion of the reclaimed land is in Vijayanagar, one of Mysuru’s most sought-after residential localities, where land values have risen sharply in recent years in Mysuru city. Of the total 150 acres recovered, nearly 50 acres were in Vijayanagar alone.Other reclaimed parcels are located in Devanur, Sathagalli, Hanchya and Nachanahalli. Since many of these lands lie within already developed layouts, the authority sees strong potential to form sites and auction them, which could generate great revenue while also making use of land that remained locked in disputes or illegal occupation for years.Officials said several of the encroachment cases stem from lands acquired by MUDA, now MDA, three or four decades ago. Though compensation was paid at the time of acquisition, some family members or relatives of the original landowners later returned to occupy the land, claiming that the compensation was inadequate and seeking additional payment. In several such cases, the parties approached the courts, and a few disputes are still pending.Early this week, MDA reclaimed seven acres of encroached prime land in Nachanahalli abutting JP Nagar in south Mysuru. It is being seen as a major step in restoring public land and improving land management in Mysuru’s expanding urban areas.