BENGALURU: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday directed deputy commissioners, chief executive officers of zilla panchayats and other revenue officials to start issuing B khatas to those who own sites and houses in unauthorised residential layouts. This will be a one-time settlement scheme and the CM directed the officials to launch this campaign immediately. He has set a deadline of three months.
In a video conference with officials, Siddaramaiah said there is a need to put an end to issues faced by owners of sites and houses in unauthorised and revenue layouts in villages, towns and cities.
Ahead of his budget presentation on March 7, the state can expect to generate some revenue by issuing B khatas. The CM said there are unauthorised layouts in cities, towns and villages. The government will not allow such layouts to come up in the state henceforth. “We have passed a law. Officials have to understand this,’’ he added. He said if any unauthorised layout comes up, action will be taken against DCs and town planning officials.
Referring to middlemen and realtors who mislead innocent property buyers, the CM stressed the need to end this menace.
He said the government would not get any revenue from unauthorised layouts. Even the local bodies are not getting any revenue from them. Site and house owners in such layouts do not pay taxes.
Rahim: Over 20 lakh A khata properties outside Bengaluru
However, those who have constructed houses or purchased sites in such layouts should not be penalised or harassed. This is a one-time settlement scheme and it should benefit them as well, the CM said.
Minister for Municipal Administration Rahim Khan said there are over 20 lakh A khata properties outside Bengaluru and around 40 lakh sites without any khatas. This number could be more. People will be benefitted by the one-time settlement scheme. Once khatas are issued, such layouts will get amenities such as drinking water, roads, drainages, and streetlights, he said.
‘High command will decide’
On the spat between DCM DK Shivakumar and minister KS Rajanna, the CM said both had expressed their views and he will not make any statement on it. “The party high command will decide. Whatever decision it takes will be applicable to all,’’ he said when asked if there is any power-sharing agreement in the state.
On nominating members to the Legislative Council, the CM said he will soon discuss it with the party’s central leaders.