Changes in Act to curb land grabbing

Changes in Act to curb land grabbing
Deccan herald

The State government is planning to make suitable amendments to the Karnataka Land Revenue Act, to curb land grabbing in and around the City, Revenue...

The State government is planning to make suitable amendments to the Karnataka Land Revenue Act, to curb land grabbing in and around the City, Revenue Minister Jagadish Shettar told the Legislative Council on Wednesday.

He said that if the land records are found to be unauthorised, a criminal case would be filed against the offenders along with a fine.

He was replying to a query by Mukhya Mantri Chandru (BJP) about government lands that had been grabbed in the City. Other members too supported the demand to file criminal cases against those who had grabbed lands and regularised them.

“I was stunned by the level of land-grabbing that had taken place. We found loopholes which need to be plugged if land-grabbing is to be stopped and offenders are to be punished,” he said. “That’s when I thought about amending the Land Revenue Act,” he added.

The names and details of land-grabbers should be placed before the Legislature. A white paper must be prepared in this regard, urged Congress member Ugrappa, Dr L Hanumanthaiah and Marithibbegowda. Mr Shettar replied that he would publicise the names and sought time to do so.

Separate committee

Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition in the Council H K Patil urged the State government to set up a joint legislature committee to tackle the land-grabbing menace.

The government made a statement on forming a committee to inquire into land-grabbing on Tuesday. However, the issue has cropped up in the Council on Wednesday.

This calls for a joint legislature committee, Mr Patil said.

Mr Shettar said that he would discuss the matter with Chief Minister H D Kumaaraswamy and take a decision.

He then gave details about the extent of land grabbed and said that a total of 203 cases were pending in Bangalore North, North (Additional), East, South and Anekal taluks. Around 2,617.32 acres of land were found to have been grabbed, he said, and added that the per acre estimate was Rs 1 crore.

While Congress member Hasanabba wanted to know what was the punishment for officials who had a hand in such cases, JD(U)’s Basavaraj Bommai said that politicians too were involved in this.

“Politicians too have grabbed lands. While some lands are ‘benami’, some have been registered in their names.

Let the government publish the assets and properties of all the previous chief ministers, ministers and their children. Let this task begin with me first,” Mr Bommai said.