BELGAUM: The State Cabinet, which met in Belgaum, has decided to introduce the Karnataka Land Revenue (Amendment Bill), 2006 during the special session of the legislature. Under the proposed law, those guilty of colluding in encroachment of land belonging to the government, city corporations and city municipal councils, would face criminal prosecution. The Cabinet took a few major decisions pertaining to development programmes in several north Karnataka districts apart from taking stock of the political developments in the light of yet another "scam" brought to the fore by a private television channel.

Among the major Cabinet decisions were the upgrading of the Belgaum and the Hubli airports at

a cost of Rs. 20 crore each. The Airports Authority of India would undertake the work.

The other important decision relates to the reissue of the BPL (below the poverty line) cards based on the income of the family concerned.

Under the new scheme, 70 lakh BPL cards would be issued, of which 58 lakh cards would be for families classified as BPL and 12 lakh cards under the Antodaya scheme (poorest of the poor).

Earlier, the BPL cards were provided to those who were not in possession of certain consumer goods like television sets, two-wheelers and the like and this had resulted in rampant misappropriation.

Minister for Public Works and Energy H.D. Revanna and the Minister for Primary and Secondary Education Basavaraj said that the Cabinet decided to upgrade the Belgaum - Goa highway up to the State border at an estimated cost of Rs. 64.39 crore. The road would be upgraded to national highway standards.

Road upgrading

The Karnataka Road Development Corporation Limited would upgrade a 50-km road from Belgaum to Chorla, near the Goa border. Tenders would be invited in a month to lay the double road.

A political decision had been taken to construct a Vidhana Soudha in Belgaum.

A final decision was still to be taken on its modalities, including how funds were to be raised for the Rs. 230-crore project. In addition, Rs. 65 crore would be set aside for the construction of a building for the circuit Bench in Gulbarga.

Mr. Horatti said under the "Survarna Grama" scheme, the Cabinet had decided to adopt 750 villages this year, of which 528 villages had already been identified. A sum of Rs. 1 crore had been earmarked for each village that would be used for promoting allied agricultural activities and formation of self-help groups.

The Cabinet also decided to stand guarantee to enable the Karnataka Power Corporation Limited

to raise a Rs. 188.65-crore loan for maintenance works at the Raichur Thermal Power

Station.

The Cabinet decided grant Rs. 4.16 crore for revival of Karnataka Fisheries Development Corporation.

By virtue of another amendment to Karnataka Land Revenue Bill, 2006, the Cabinet decided to revive the post of regional commissioners (earlier known as divisional commissioners) to deal with issues pertaining to a given region of the State.

The Cabinet also cleared a lift irrigation project at Sonth in Afzalpur taluk in Gulbarga

district. A sum of Rs. 20 crore had been set aside for the project.

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