Cash reward for info on benami land in Bangalore: Yeddyurappa

Bangalore, Jan 25 (PTI) In a bid to unearthinformation on ''benami'' lands, the ruling BJP, which is facingthe heat over alleged land scams, today said it would rewardpeople who come forward with details on such properties.

Addressing a legislative party meeting here, ChiefMinister B S Yeddyurappa said he is setting up a fund of Rsfive crore in the budget for giving these cash rewards. Thebudget session is to be presented next month.

"According to me, benami lands in Bangalore are valuedat Rs one lakh crore", Yeddyurappa said, adding, thegovernment will confiscate such properties.

Advertisements would be put out in newspapers askingpeople to share information on ''benami'' lands. The value ofthe reward would be proportionate to the value of the propertythat they helped in identifying and confiscate.

Names of these whistle-blowers will not be disclosedand they will be rewarded in cash, he said.

Yeddyurappa said thousands of acres of ''benami'' landin Bangalore are held by politicians and others who are nowwaiting to sell them once the real estate prices go up."My desire is to present my last budget (fifth year ofthe Government) of the size of Rs one lakh crore. If we areable to get another Rs one lakh crore (by way of confiscatingbenami land), we would actually be able to make Bangalore andKarnataka a ''nandananvana'' (prosperous land)".

Yeddyurappa said his government would come out with abooklet detailing the alleged scams during the tenure of S MKrishna (Cong) and H D Kumaraswamy (JDS) as Chief Ministersand send it to all Parliament members.

He also challenged the Congress and the Opposition foran open three-day debate on various charges in the presenceof 2000-3000 statesmen, experts and people keen on state''sdevelopment.

A ''benami'' land is transferred or registered in thename of a person but the consideration is paid by another. PTIRS MSR BN