Bhoomi prog to be extended to Hobli level: Shettar

Mysore, May 2 (UNI) The Karnataka Government will extend the Bhoomi programme to Hobli level soon, as part of its efforts to reform the revenue administration, Revenue Minister Jagadish Shatter informed today.

Addressing newspersons here, he said the Bhoomi programme was at present being implemented at the headquarters of 175 taluks and would be extended to 800 hoblis in the state.

Besides land records, the programme would also take up computerisation of caste certificates, income certificates, birth and death certificates and old age and widow pensions, he added.

Mr Shettar said the department was planning to implement the Bhoomi programme in urban areas too.

Referring to 20,000 pending applications in the state seeking the compensations under the National Family Welfare Programme, he said the state government had already earmarked Rs five crore for the purpose and the Centre had approved Rs 15 crore. The issue would be settled within the next six months.

Asked about the Vijayabhaskar report on land scam in and around the city, he said he would react after going through the report.

Stating that the department had taken a serious view of the encroachment on government land, he said in Bangalore alone, nearly 4,000 acres encroached land had been identified. The government had so far taken back 500 acres and would soon recover the remaining.

Earlier, the Minister held a review meeting with department officials here.

UNI BSP RG HVB1650