MYSURU: The Mysuru Development Authority (MDA) has successfully reclaimed approximately 150 acres of encroached land in and around Mysuru over the past year. The authority is now planning to transform the recovered areas into residential sites, which will be made available for auction.
The reclaimed land, situated in developed layouts, was initially acquired by the authority decades ago. Compensation was provided to landowners at that time; however, over the years, numerous parcels have been illegally occupied, resulting in ongoing legal disputes.
As stated by MDA’s in-charge commissioner, KR Rakshith, who is also the special land acquisition officer, 17 encroachments have been cleared since May 2025. Some occupations were recent, while others persisted for many years. “We are planning to develop the reclaimed land and proceed with the auction,” Rakshith confirmed.
A significant portion of the reclaimed land is in Vijayanagar, one of the most desirable residential areas in Mysuru, where property values have surged in recent years. Out of the total reclaimed area, about 50 acres are located in Vijayanagar alone.
Other parcels that have been reclaimed are found in Devanur, Sathagalli, Hanchya, and Nachanahalli. Given that many of these properties are situated within already developed layouts, the authority sees a strong opportunity to create sites for auction, thereby generating significant revenue while reactivating land that has been tied up in disputes and illegal occupations for years.
MDA officials noted that several encroachment cases originated from land acquired by MUDA, now MDA, three to four decades ago. Although compensation was provided at the time of acquisition, some relatives of the original landowners later reoccupied the land, claiming the compensation was insufficient and demanding additional payments. In many cases, these disputes have escalated to the courts, with some still pending resolution.
This week, MDA reclaimed seven acres of encroached prime land in Nachanahalli, adjacent to JP Nagar in south Mysuru. This action is seen as a significant step towards restoring public land and enhancing land management in the rapidly expanding urban areas of Mysuru.
