Karnataka - Hassan   

Minister orders probe into illegal encroachments

By Our Staff Correspondent

HASSAN, MARCH 24. The issues regarding the endorsement of action plans without the consent of members and the need to regularise encroached Government land in Salagame hobli were raised at the zilla panchayat meeting here on Thursday.

Congress and Janata Dal (Secular) members accused each other of circumventing the law. However, the Minister for Public Works and in charge of the district, H.D. Revanna, ordered a probe into the matter.

Objected

Congress members took objection to the alleged practice of approving action plans without the consent of the panchayat members.

D.C. Sannaswamy, who circulated a questionnaire on Wednesday, raised the issue and sought a clarification from the Chief Executive Officer of the zilla panchayat in this regard. He alleged that the previous president had approved action plans for the rejuvenation of tanks in 37 constituencies without bringing informing the members.

He added that Rs. 13.30 lakhs has been released for the construction and repair of school buildings in the district in 2003-04 without the consent of the members.

Discrimination

Supporting Mr. Swamy's claims was the former president of the panchayat, Krishna Prasad. Though Mr. Revanna tried to pacify Congress members, they demanded that CEO clarify the issue. Mr. Prasad also accused the CEO of discriminating among members while allotting development works.

However, members of the Janata Dal (S) countered the allegation by raising the issue of mismanagement when the Congress was in power in the panchayat.

The CEO, Jamaadar, clarified that the panchayat administration has adhered to norms and there is no violation of rules. When the issue had been raised up in panchayat in October 2003, the house had authorised the then president to list out works and act accordingly.

Objections raised

The illegal encroachment of government land by villagers of Salagame constituency was also raised at the meeting. The Gandsi member, K.M. Shivalinge Gowda raised objections to the regularisation of encroached land and urged the Minister to order an inquiry into the matter.

Defending their demand of regularisation, Congress members said that the coalition Government had recently decided to regularise encroach lands across the State.

Mr. Revanna however directed the CEO and the Deputy Commissioner to conduct a probe into the matter and submit a report at the earliest. He also directed the authorities to regularise the land, if they are being occupied by the poor.

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