Bengaluru: The Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) wrote to the forest department Thursday seeking an urgent joint meeting to find a permanent solution to the long-pending Turahalli forest buffer zone dispute — a crisis that has left hundreds of plot owners unable to construct homes on legally purchased sites for several years.In the letter, the authority flagged numerous plots in its Banashankari 6th Phase layout — spread across Blocks 1 to 11 — fall within the buffer zone of the forest area, and that the forest department has been refusing construction permissions to affected plot owners, causing widespread confusion and distress among citizens who invested their life savings in BDA-allotted sites.A senior BDA official said, “Around 1,300 sites were initially under the buffer zone, causing hardship to many families. After joint efforts and surveys, a total of 1,000 were taken out of the buffer zone, leaving about 300 sites, covering around 18 acres, within the buffer zone along the forest boundary. This has brought relief to many, with several families starting construction. Now, with clearer data from joint surveys, the focus is on finding a legal framework for a permanent solution, which will be discussed in the upcoming meeting.”In the letter, BDA said a drone survey of the Turahalli forest and adjoining layout was conducted on Jan 10, 2026, in coordination with forest officials. The findings were discussed in joint meetings with consultants, leading to a revised layout map identifying buffer zone sites, which was submitted to the forest department.BDA has now formally requested the forest conservator to urgently fix a date for a high-level joint meeting, involving the additional chief secretaries of the forest, environment and biology departments to discuss the issue comprehensively and arrive at a permanent solution for the issue regarding the Turahalli forest buffer zone.
