Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Jul 30: Addressing a press conference here recently, corporator Mariamma Thomas called upon the people to file maximum number of objections for the revised schedule of betterment fees prescribed for the acquisition of land and houses that has been made effective by circulating the modified chart of charges through a circular issued by the secretary to the department of urban development. She said, the charges mooted vide the circular are too heavy and they will add hugely to the cost of acquisition of land and houses.

As only two days are left for filing objections to the new schedule of charges, she asked the people to come out with as many objections as possible.

Mariamma pointed out that, as per this new circular, in the case of acquisition of a site and constructing a house costing Rs 10 lac, the buyer will have to pay about three lac rupees to the government as betterment fee. Even if the government, under pressure from the citizens, agrees to cut the charges by half, the rates will still remain exorbitant, she said. She opined that withdrawal of the revised circular is the only solution for this problem.

As the circular has been published in the state gazette, most of the people are unaware of its contents. The department should have made the contents of the circular public through the media sufficiently in advance and should have given enough time for a public debate on the issue, she said, expressing her dissent for the government's move.

Social workers Stany Alvaris and Roy Castelino were present at the press conference.