The former Minister Laxman Savadi has exposed a massive land grabbing scam involving Panchayat Development Officers (PDO), presidents, members and secretaries of the gram panchayats in Sankonahatti, in his home taluk of Athani, where large areas of government land have been encroached upon.
Speaking during the Karnataka Development Programme meeting presided over by Excise Minister Satish Jarkiholi here on Monday, he alleged that nearly 1,000 acres of farm land had been converted as Non-Agricultural Land and layouts have been formed. Nearly 300 civic amenities (CA) sites in these layouts were illegally leased to various persons and institutions for 99 years. However, the government has recovered 244 CA sites so far, he said.
Many PDOs and secretaries had encroached upon government land and constructed residential buildings, which the government has not recovered so far, Mr. Savadi alleged. Rejecting the excuse that notices had been issued to the concerned PDOs and secretaries, he asked the government to initiate action against the illegal land holder as per Karnataka Civil Service Rule immediately.
Police Commissioner S. Ravi, responding to a question, assured to check the growing menace of mobile-based matka gambling in the city. The members also discussed other issues and stressed for expeditious completion of various development works.
