Be careful on land use change, officials told

Be careful on land use change, officials told
The Hindu

All doubts on Greater Bangalore to be addressed

# Governor has sought clarifications on Ordinance: Kumaraswamy
# The number of wards in the new council likely to be 150

BANGALORE: Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy on Wednesday cautioned officials of the urban local bodies and departments of revenue and urban development to be "extra careful" while permitting land conversions.

Addressing presspersons after a meeting with officials from the seven City Municipal Councils (CMCs), one Town Municipal Council (TMC), revenue and urban development, the Chief Minister said he had directed the officials to strictly implement "The Karnataka Land Revenue (Amendment) Ordinance, 2006" promulgated on December 11.

"We are in the process of forming the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) and in the wake of this, we want to check misuse of Form 9 and Form 10 through which land conversions (from agricultural to non-agricultural purposes) are done. I have told the officials to consult the Government before allowing any land conversions," he said.

Replying to questions, the Chief Minister said that "all resistance to the formation of BBMP would be addressed within the framework of law."

When pointed out that the Mahadevapura CMC had adopted a resolution objecting to the State Government's move to form BBMP, the Chief Minister said the Government would "clear all doubts and address all objections within the framework of law."

Delimitation on

He said the delimitation exercise for reorganisation of wards was on and it was likely that the number of wards would increase from 100 to 150. When pointed out that the Governor had returned the Ordinance on increasing the number of wards, Mr. Kumaraswamy said: "The Governor has not objected. He has sought clarification on the issue and we will explain to him the entire process."

Declining to comment as to when the Government would issue the final notification on BBMP, the Chief Minister said, "the process is on and we will soon issue the final notification."

The Bangalore Development Authority's (BDA) Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP) would be finalised in the first week of January, he added.