Revenue minister Kagodu Thimappa said that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has approved the separate sand policy for the coastal districts of Udupi and Dakshina Kannada.
Addressing a gathering after inaugurating the ceremony to announce taluk status for Byndoor, the revenue minister said that the Congress government is working on making administration convenient to the people. He stressed that land-related confusions should be hassle-free. He added that the government has announced 50 taluks by the end of January and is enabling all the administrative services for decentralisation of power. The introduction of taluks helps the people in the respective regions to get the work done at the earliest.
He opined that officials should work with transparency to ensure social justice. He noted that land earmarked under Kumki and other special privileges were considered as privileged land under Section 79/2 of the Revenue Act. However, it is being wrongly considered as forest land and requires liberation from the tag of forest land. He added that when the government decided to introduce rules for Mulageni land, someone approached the High Court and the court issued a stay order. He said he has directed the government counsel to appeal for vacating the stay order. He stressed for the effective carrying out of administrative duties under Sakala, wherein out of 100 services offered, 99 are offering quality services to the people.
Asserting that Byndoor would get the tag of the first newly formed taluk in the state out of 50 taluks which received the gazette notification, the minister said that Byndoor had fulfilled all the necessary criteria required for upgrading towards taluk status. He said that except for mini Vidhana Soudha and Court, all other required offices are available. He urged the officials to send the proposal for mini Vidhana Soudha, which he would approve immediately. He said following the demand by the public, he would send the proposal for over bridge at Byndoor, to the central government which would help the commuters. He directed officials to dispose of applications appealing for title deeds in the forest land. The government has already issued the order. The minister pointed out that problems pertaining to 'Bagair Hukum' land would be kept before the cabinet committee on Thursday, and the applications pending under 'Bagair Hukum' land would be offered the time bound period of six months, following the decision by the cabinet committee meet on clearance. He said that clearance of Bagair Hukum land was earlier offered twice to the public in 1991 and 1998. Sadly, owing to ignorance of the public and official apathy, the problem still looms large. The Land Reforms Act, which was effectively introduced was not able to dispose of the problems phase by phase following lethargic administrative hassles.
The minister instructed the PDOs and VAs to take up thorough survey to identify the homeless and needy in all villages, to ensure land sites to the needy. He added that nominal payments for 50x80 square feet land was earlier Rs 6,000, which is now reduced to Rs 3,000.
He lamented the delay in the PODI works, which is entrusted to tahsildars and added that owning the land legally is the right of every landholder.
He also inaugurated newly formed Brahmavar taluk at a programme in the afternoon and Kaup taluk in Kaup late in the evening.
