Cut in penalty for regularising illegal buildings

Revenue Minister Kagodu Thimmappa on Tuesday said the government has decided to reduce the penalty fixed for regularisation of unauthorised constructions on government land in rural areas. Kagodu told reporters the government will allow people seeking regularisation to pay the penalty in instalments, he added.

Replying to queries, he said dangerous superstitious practices can be eradicated by bringing in awareness among people. It is unfortunate that educated people are also indulging in such practices, he said. “It is difficult to eradicate it (superstitious practices). Ban on such practices should happen in households. For this, we have to bring in awareness among people,” he added. Thimmappa heads a Cabinet sub-committee set up to scrutinise a draft bill on banning certain superstitious practices.

He said except for Malnad region, most parts of the state have received normal monsoon rains. The rainfall is below normal in Malnad. The region will face drinking water problems if the monsoon fails in the coming days, he said, and added that the government is contemplating taking up cloud seeding.