Starting Aug 1, e-khata system will come under Sakala: Patil

 The state government has decided to bring e-khata system under Sakala (timely delivery of the government services) from August 1 this year, Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj
H K Patil said on Friday.

Replying to Ramachandra Gowda (BJP) in the Legislative Council, the minister said applications seeking e-khata (electronically generated khata) will have to be processed within seven days under Sakala. A separate team of officials headed by the Director, Panchayat Raj, Kempe Gowda, has been formed to bring in e-khata system under Sakala. The aim is to prevent unnecessary harassment of gullible public by corrupt officials, he added.

Earlier, Kantharaj (JD-S) said many Panchayat Development Officers in gram panchayats in Bengaluru Rural district have been collecting Rs 15,000 to Rs 20,000 bribe from property owners for issuing e-khata

 “The bribe amount is fixed. One has to pay up if one wants e-khata. The officials have colluded with touts. In many places, the corrupt officials are issuing fake e-khatas,” he added.

Minister for Planning and Statistics M R Seetharam also said that the problem of illegal e-khatas is rampant in many places around Bengaluru and urged the RDPR minister to take action against the corrupt officials. Then, Patil admitted that the problem exists around Bengaluru and assured him that he will take action if specific instances of the officials demanding bribe are brought to his notice.

A committee set up to look into the problem of fake e-khata had found more than 6,000 of them in some gram panchayats of north Bengaluru. Disciplinary action has been already initiated against all the officials who were involved in this illegal activity. Besides, notices are being issued to the property owners who possess e-khata, asking them to explain how they obtained them.

Patil said a Cabinet sub-committee has been set up to look into the problems in implementing e-khata system in the Malnad and the Coastal regions of the state.