From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore
Bangalore, Apr 23: Deadline for regularisation of unauthorised houses built on government lands in rural areas has been extended by three months till end of June.
The earlier deadline was March 31, 2014.
The State Government could not announce any extension of the deadline on account of model code of conduct and elections, which has just been relaxed by the Election Commission as the Lok Sabha polling in Karnataka was completed on April 17.
Announcing the State Government’s decision, Karnataka’s Revenue Minister V Srinivas Prasad said the decision has now been taken by the Government to extend the deadline till the end of June to enable the families to regularise houses.
The State Cabinet meeting held in January fixed the penalty for regularization of houses.
Prasad said the Bill passed by the Assembly to regularise illegal constructions in urban areas was pending in the legislative council.
The State Government would ensure that the Bill was passed in the next session of the state legislature, he said.
Drinking Water Shortage in 532 Habitations
The minister said 4.25 lakh residents residing in 532 habitations have been facing severe drinking water problem and 721 tankers were being used to supply potable water to them.
More number of habitations in Bangalore rural district (113) followed by Kolar (87), Bangalore Urban (82) and Tumkur (63) have been facing drinking water crisis, he said.
The State Government has decided to increase the compensation to be paid for farmers who had lost crops in the last month’s hailstorm.
The minister said compensation of Rs 15,000 per hectare would be given to each farmer against Rs 4,500 per hectare fixed under the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) by the Centre.
The Compensation amount of Rs 40,000 per hectare would be given to horticulture crops against Rs 12,000 fixed under NDRF.
The Centre has released Rs 82.77 crore to the State for providing compensation to farmers who had lost crops due to hailstorm.
Now the, State government has decided to incur additional expenditure of Rs 244 crore to pay increased compensation to farmers.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has suggested to increase the compensation amount as per the Maharashtra government’s model.
The relevant file has been sent to the Finance Department for approval and release of Rs 244 crore, Prasad said.