Cabinet agrees to deposit Rs 3.4k-cr TDR with Supreme Court for Palace land

Bengaluru: The Karnataka Cabinet on Thursday decided to deposit transferable development rights (TDR) to the tune of Rs 3,400 crore conditionally with the Supreme Court for the acquisition of Bangalore Palace Grounds land to develop the Ballari and Jayamahal Roads in Bengaluru.

The Supreme Court had in the last week directed the state government to deposit the TDR within a week based on the plea of the heirs of the erstwhile royal family of Mysore.

The Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah discussed the SC order and decided to deposit the TDR with a condition that the land owners should not be allowed to use this fund until a final verdict is given in the apex court on the matter.

Apart from this the cabinet has reportedly decided to amend the Professional Tax Act to increase the professional tax by Rs 100. “At present professional tax is charged at Rs 200 and if the amendment is passed, the professional tax will go up to Rs 300,” the source said.

The Cabinet also gave an administrative approval to take up water storage works under World Bank-sponsored schemes in 110 villages that were merged in BBMP limits, at an estimated cost of Rs 1323.47 crore.

The Cabinet also approved a detailed project report to pay Rs 1.65 per liter to collect leachate from land filling units. The total cost of this project is estimated at Rs 447.89 crore for a period of four years.