Bengaluru, Mar 16: Only about 17% of the 1.12 lakh acres of Waqf properties in Karnataka remain free from encroachment, State Minority Welfare and Waqf Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan told the Assembly on Monday, adding that many of the encroachments were by Muslims themselves.

Responding to a question from Afzalpur Congress MLA M. Y. Patil, the minister said the state has a total of 1,12,860 acres of Waqf land, but only 20,054 acres remain in its possession.

“About 17,969 acres are under encroachment. We lost 47,263 acres under the Inam Abolition Act and 23,627 acres due to the Land Reforms Act,” Khan said.

He said efforts were underway to address the issue through Waqf Adalats, which were introduced after he assumed office.

“After I became minister, I started Waqf Adalats to resolve encroachment disputes, but it soon became a major issue,” he said. “These properties were not given by the government but donated by private individuals, and many of them have been encroached upon by Muslims themselves.”

Intervening in the discussion, Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka said there was widespread concern over what he described as “arbitrary” Waqf claims.

“In Chikkaballapur, the school where M. Visvesvaraya studied was claimed by the Waqf Board,” he said, demanding a probe into alleged encroachments and disputes.

Ashoka also referred to the Windsor Manor Hotel, asking why authorities had not asserted Waqf claims over the property.

“How did you leave Windsor Manor out? Have you ever claimed it? You won’t, because you go there to eat and drink coffee,” he said.

Responding to the concerns, Khan assured the House that no temples or educational institutions would be claimed as Waqf properties.