<p>The Legislative Assembly on Tuesday approved amendments to the Karnataka Land Revenue Act, 1964 that paves way for regularisation of revenue sites (sites formed on agriculture land without land use conversion) in Bangalore and other urban areas in the State.<br /><br />The Karnataka Land Revenue (Second Amendment) Bill, 2009, passed amidst a walk out by the entire Opposition provides for regularisation of sites and layouts developed prior to December 31, 2008 as a one-time measure by imposing penalty.<br /><br />Registration of revenue sites and layouts was banned by the government in the year 2005. There are around five lakh such revenue sites in and around major cities, Revenue Minister Karunakara Reddy said, while piloting the Bill.<br /><br /> However, land that lies in natural drains, storm water drain, river course or bed, or below high tension electric line, coming in the way of proposed roads, reserved for civic amenities, forest land, area covered by the Coastal Zone Regulations, areas categorised as “RED” by Karnataka State Pollution Board among others will not be considered for regularisation, he said.<br /><br />Reddy said the provisions for regularisation which the government proposed to restrict to city corporations, will also be extended to the jurisdiction of city municipal councils and town municipalities. Applicants need to apply to the deputy commissioner concerned for regularisation with required penalty. The quantum of penalty will be finalised soon. The regularisation will be a one-time measure and will apply for one year from the date of gazette notification of the amended Act.<br /><br />Earlier, Opposition members urged the government to refer the Bill to a joint select committee to plug loopholes in the proposed amendment. Leader of the Opposition Siddaramaiah said the government should first conduct a survey to ascertain the number of unauthorised layouts and sites. The amendment in its present form will only benefit developers rather than the purchaser, he said.<br /><br />KCCOA amendment <br /><br />The government also tabled the Karnataka Control of Organised Crimes (Amendment) Bill, 2009. The new provision in the amendment bill proposes to consider terrorism as organised crime. <br /><br />The government has also proposed death sentence or imprisonment for life and/or fine of Rs 10 lakh for those convicted for terrorist acts even if such acts do not result in loss of life. It also provides for attachment of the property of the accused immediately after his or her arrest.<br /><br /> To help investigators gather evidence and to carry out investigation, the time period for filing charge sheet has been proposed to be increased to 365 days from 180 days.</p>
<p>The Legislative Assembly on Tuesday approved amendments to the Karnataka Land Revenue Act, 1964 that paves way for regularisation of revenue sites (sites formed on agriculture land without land use conversion) in Bangalore and other urban areas in the State.<br /><br />The Karnataka Land Revenue (Second Amendment) Bill, 2009, passed amidst a walk out by the entire Opposition provides for regularisation of sites and layouts developed prior to December 31, 2008 as a one-time measure by imposing penalty.<br /><br />Registration of revenue sites and layouts was banned by the government in the year 2005. There are around five lakh such revenue sites in and around major cities, Revenue Minister Karunakara Reddy said, while piloting the Bill.<br /><br /> However, land that lies in natural drains, storm water drain, river course or bed, or below high tension electric line, coming in the way of proposed roads, reserved for civic amenities, forest land, area covered by the Coastal Zone Regulations, areas categorised as “RED” by Karnataka State Pollution Board among others will not be considered for regularisation, he said.<br /><br />Reddy said the provisions for regularisation which the government proposed to restrict to city corporations, will also be extended to the jurisdiction of city municipal councils and town municipalities. Applicants need to apply to the deputy commissioner concerned for regularisation with required penalty. The quantum of penalty will be finalised soon. The regularisation will be a one-time measure and will apply for one year from the date of gazette notification of the amended Act.<br /><br />Earlier, Opposition members urged the government to refer the Bill to a joint select committee to plug loopholes in the proposed amendment. Leader of the Opposition Siddaramaiah said the government should first conduct a survey to ascertain the number of unauthorised layouts and sites. The amendment in its present form will only benefit developers rather than the purchaser, he said.<br /><br />KCCOA amendment <br /><br />The government also tabled the Karnataka Control of Organised Crimes (Amendment) Bill, 2009. The new provision in the amendment bill proposes to consider terrorism as organised crime. <br /><br />The government has also proposed death sentence or imprisonment for life and/or fine of Rs 10 lakh for those convicted for terrorist acts even if such acts do not result in loss of life. It also provides for attachment of the property of the accused immediately after his or her arrest.<br /><br /> To help investigators gather evidence and to carry out investigation, the time period for filing charge sheet has been proposed to be increased to 365 days from 180 days.</p>
