INTERACTION: Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy speaking to presspersons at Channarayapatna in Hassan district on Thursday.

HASSAN: Government will form a task force to recover encroached land around Bangalore, Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy has said.

He was addressing presspersons at Channarayapatna, 45 km from here, on Thursday.

The Chief Minister was here to attend the funeral of his close relative Chamaraje Gowda (94).

Chamaraje Gowda passed away at Cholenahalli near Channarayapatna on Wednesday.

The former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda visited the village on Thursday morning.

Farm loans

The Government's decision on waiver of farm loans was not a gimmick, the Chief Minister said.

On registering cases with regard to illegal mining and quarrying, the Chief Minister said officers would take action.

The Chief Minister said the Government was committed to abolishing arrack. The Excise Department had already worked out a method to meet the loss arising from the abolition of arrack.

The Government would encourage the sale of IML (Indian-made liquor) and the revenue anticipated from it would be more than that of arrack, he said.

On the allegation of Honnali MLA M.P. Renukacharya that he was baton charged, the Chief Minister said he had obtained statements from the MLA and the Superintendent of Police, Davangere.

"I will take action after a review," Mr. Kumaraswamy said.

Local body polls

The Chief Minister said the delay in conducting the local bodies elections was due to the delay in reorganisation of the constituencies. The polls would be held after the process was completed.

The Chief Minister was received at the helipad by Deputy Commissioner K.H. Aswathanarayana Gowda, Superintendent of Police Panduranga Rane and C.H. Putte Gowda, MLA.

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