Panel may revamp norms for land grants

Panel may revamp norms for land grants
Deccan Herald

The proposed panel will also probe whether government lands already allotted to IT companies in the last few years were according to norms.

The State Cabinet on Wednesday is learnt to have resolved to constitute a sub-committee to revise the guidelines for sanction of government land to IT companies.

Deputy Chief Minister M P Prakash, who also holds the revenue portfolio, will head the panel and suggest changes to the existing guidelines to ensure “accountability” and “transparency” in sanction of land to IT companies, sources said.

The panel will also probe and report to the Cabinet whether government lands allotted to various IT companies during the last few years were according to norms.

A section of ministers in the Cabinet even felt that the changes in the recommendations made by the panel should be incorporated into the various land authorities acts by promulgating an ordinance.

The decision of the Cabinet comes close on the heels of JD(S) leader and former prime minister H D Deve Gowda’s letter to Chief Minister N Dharam Singh demanding details on extent of government land allotted to various IT companies.

Mr Gowda had sought comparison of employment generated by such companies including Infosys which have taken government land, with other IT firms like Wipro, HP and IBM which have not been provided any government land. Mr Gowda had cautioned the chief minister on taking a final decision on allotment of 845 acres of land on the outskirts of Bangalore to Infosys.

Meanwhile, the Cabinet is also learnt to have cleared a proposal to regularise 682 part-time high school teachers.

These teachers were appointed by various zilla panchayats in 1997. The Cabinet also approved regularisation of services of 92 doctors appointed on a contract basis.

The Cabinet is learnt to have deferred a decision on payment of the cost escalation bill for Vikas Soudha to the tune of Rs 47 crore submitted by the private construction company – Shirke Construction. The Cabinet decided to discuss the matter after taking stock of the work.

It also deferred a decision on appointment of an additional registrar (investigation) in the Lokayukta to expedite the process of clearing pending cases. However, it gave its nod for filling up other vacancies in the Lokayukta, he said.

DECISIONS

*The sub-committee to examine if norms were adhered to while allotting land to IT firms.

*A comparitive study to be made to see if the beneficiary companies fulfilled the conditions of the

*overnment.

*Decision deferred on payment of the cost escalation bill for Vikas Soudha submitted by the private construction company.

*Decision on appointment of an additional

registrar (investigation) in the Lokayukta to be taken later.