JOIN USA bill, which provides for allowing tapping of neera, the sweet sap from coconut trees, was tabled in the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday.
The Karnataka Excise (Amendment) Bill, 2016 also provides to promote byproducts of neera like palm jaggery and palm sugar to help farmers increase their revenue.
In the current Excise Act, neera is classified as juice drawn from excise trees, including gulmohar, coconut, palm, palmyra, date, bagani or doddasal. Freshly tapped neera, if not stored under controlled temperature or consumed within a couple of hours, turns into toddy on account of fermentation.
The amendment bill seeks to remove the ‘neera’ clause from the excise legislation. The bill stipulates that neera should be sold in its pure form and no chemicals or ingredients should be added to it.
Neera can be tapped after obtaining licence and paying the prescribed fee to the government. Those who violate the provisions of the bill could lead to imposition of fine up to Rs 10,000 and six months imprisonment. A bill that seeks to regularise the houses built by agricultural labourers prior to January 1, 1979 in government or private land was tabled in the Assembly. The Karnataka Land Reforms (Amendment) Bill, 2016 bill seeks to regularise such houses and issue title.
Good Samaritan Bill
The Karnataka Good Samaritan and Medical Professional (Protection and Regulation during Emergency situations) Bill, 2016, to provide protection to ‘Good Samaritans’ and medical professionals who help accident victims from civil and criminal liabilities.
The bill provides that good samaritans will be relieved from repeated attendance in courts/police stations.
If they are made to run about courts, then expenses of such persons will be met through the proposed ‘Good Samaritan Fund’.
Severe action will be taken against doctors/hospitals who refuse treatment.