Govt may push for Akrama-Sakrama bill

The government is likely to push forth the controversial Land Regularisation Bill, 2012 in a renewed manner.

Governor H R Bhardwaj had returned the Bill after it was passed in both the Houses of the Legislature during the BJP regime.

He had observed that the legalisation of the ‘illegality’ of encroachment was not a solution but an invitation to more encroachment. The bill is now before the Law department pending its consideration, official sources said.

Speaking to Deccan Herald, Bangalore district in-charge Minister Ramalinga Reddy said that the government is considering the next possible move. “It is still pending our consideration. We are going to discuss this (Akrama-Sakrama) with the chief minister” he said.

Scores of people who have constructed houses and commercial spaces on revenue land will benefit by the proposed legislation.

The government may, in fact, push for it at the earliest, before the Lok Sabha elections in 2014.

It hopes that the beneficiaries would vote for the Congress in the polls. At the other end, the one-time legalisation offer is expected to bring in thousands of crores of rupees to the local bodies and, in turn, reduce the financial burden on the government.

Sources in the government state that as per the initial survey, there are close to 16 lakh properties which have been illegally constructed in Bangalore alone.

The fees for legalising these constructions is likely to generate a whopping Rs 14,000 crore for the BBMP. While the revenue may not directly reach the State government, it will provide a good resource for the local bodies, sources said.

It is said that apart from Bangalore, the next big urban section which may yield revenue by way of Akrama-Sakrama  is Mangalore and Mysore. There may not be much revenue generated from the rural parts of the State as the land prices are on the lower side.

The Bill will now be considered by the Law department for any changes to be made or to to be sent back ‘in toto.’

The Bill will then be considered by government and presented before the Assembly, before being sent to the Governor for his assent.

The Law department is also likely to take into account their submission to the High Court which has sought the State’s response on the Bill.