State Cabinet goes on prime land allotment spree

25 acres for Amritanandamayi Trust to set up hospital, medical college

The State Cabinet on Thursday went on a land allotment spree sanctioning prime real estate in different parts of the State to private players and government agencies for commercial, industrial and residential purposes.

Briefing reporters after the meeting, Higher Education Minister V S Acharya said the government will allot 25 acres of land at concessional rate in Kiniminiki village, Kengeri, Bangalore to Matha Amritanandamayi Mutt for construction of a super-speciality hospital and medical college.

The Mutt, in return, will provide free health care to poor patients and reserve 42 per cent of seats in its medical college for the quota filled through the Common Entrance Test conducted by the government.

Former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa had promised land to the Mutt as a return gesture for constructing houses for the victims of 2009 floods in North Karnataka.
The Cabinet also decided to allot 15 acres 20 guntas of government land in Hempapur, Bangalore to the Karnataka Housing Board (KHB) to form a layout.

The Board also got an approval to acquire 65.35 acres at K Nedaguni village, Madikeri at a cost of Rs 24.5 a acre for formation of residential layouts.

Acharya said it was decided to allow Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board acquire 37.15 acres in Hulimavu of Nanjangud taluk to develop an industrial estate.  
Twenty-five guntas was allotted to Bhovi Government Employees’ Association in Malur, Kolar district on a lease basis for 30 years for the  construction of a hostel.

Houses on agri land
The Cabinet gave its nod to allow construction of houses up to 1,200 sq ft on agricultural land owned by beneficiaries of government housing schemes without paying conversion charges.

Acharya said hitherto houses sanctioned under government schemes like Indira Awaas Yojana, Grameena Vasathi could be constructed only on government land or agricultural land after paying conversion charges.

“Due to shortage of government land, we have decided to allow construction of houses on the agricultural land owned by the beneficiaries. Conversion charge norm will be relaxed but the built up area of the houses cannot exceed 1,200 sq ft”, Acharya said.

The Cabinet approved inviting reverse bidding applications to provide 50 MW of  photovoltaic power and 30 MW of solar thermal power from private players.
The government has fixed maximum rate for photovoltaic power at Rs 14.5 a unit and Rs 11.35 for a unit of solar thermal power. The government has to purchase 40 MW of non-renewable, non-conventional energy every year as per the direction of Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Authority.

DVS gives a dressing down to detractors
Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda on Thursday, is said to have given a dressing down to some of his Cabinet colleagues, staunch supporters of former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa,  for making statements against him in the public.

After the conclusion of the agenda listed for the Cabinet meeting, the chief minister directed all officers to move out. Alone with his Cabinet colleagues he is said to have lashed out at his detractors, without specifically naming anybody.

Gowda is said to have asserted himself stating that he was aware of his responsibilities as chief minister and he too had functioned in various capacities including as the State party president.  He was hurt by the loose talk and irresponsible comments made against him, Gowda asserted and said he would not tolerate such behaviour anymore.

Of late, former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa’s supporters in the state Cabinet have been making public statements on the leadership issue. Excise Minister M P Renukacharya had gone to the extent saying Gowda should not forget that he was occupying the prime post only because of Yeddyurappa.

Municipal Administration Minister Balachandra Jarakiholi is said to have urged the chief minister not to attach too much importance to the utterances of ministers.