'Land rights for slum dwellers'

 
Speaking to reporters, he said he is planning to collect a nominal fee for the ownership rights from the slum dwellers. Majority of the land where slums are located, are under the control of land grabbers. “By enacting an Act, we want to legalise their (slum dwellers) houses,” he stated.

Somanna said he is chalking out a plan to improve infrastructure facilities for around 300 slums in Bangalore. A team of officials is visiting Andhra Pradesh shortly to study a slum development project being implemented there. The aim is to make the State slum-free in the next four years, he added.

Besides, the Housing Minister said he will suggest the Chief Minister and the Home Minister to wind up the Karnataka Police Housing Corporation and entrust the responsibility to construct houses for police personnel to the Karnataka Housing Board.

Though the Corporation has sufficient funds, it has not been able to function properly.

Only 36 per cent of policemen have shelter in the State. “I will write to both the CM and the Home Minister to give me the responsibility. I promise that nearly 80 per cent of policemen will have houses in the next four years,” he stated.