Delay in file clearance affecting regularisation of land: Kagodu

Revenue Minister Kagodu Thimmappa warned revenue officials to dispose of all pending files without delay ensure the title deeds immediately to the applicants.

Speaking at the review meet held at the DC’s office, the minister said that delay in the disposal of files has massively affected regularisation of land for ownership of the beneficiaries. The government is into simplification of the rules pertaining to revenue matters. Taking especially the tahsildars to task, the minister accused the officials of being lackadaisical in discharging their duties.

“The officials should use Section 79/2 of the Land Revenue Act, which permits regularisation of partial deemed forest for 94B, through which specific provision is laid down. If the landmass comprises deemed forest area, the officials need not ask the opinion of the Forest Department, instead they can make use of the provision of law under Section 79/2. An additional committee will be constituted in each Assembly constituency to look into the loopholes,” he said.

Kagodu said he would issue an order to use licensed surveyors to survey the government land in special cases. A special drive should be taken up to survey the long track land. At least nine cents of land should be given to the needy under 94C. As many as 27,856 applications are received in the district.

The minister said initially the DC, AC and Bhoomi would decide over Podi, but the state government has simplified the rule and authorised Tahsildar to sanction Podi land, for which farmers have no land records.

Karkala MLA Sunil Kumar said that deaths due to lightning are not properly compensated. District In-charge Minister Pramod Madhwaraj and MLC Kota Srinivas Poojary said that the roads damaged are not permitted for repair under the funds released.

DC Priyanka Mary Francis said that Rs 18.34-crore loss is reported and the proposal has been sent – Rs 3 crore is released, Rs 2 crore is leftover. Up to 42 villages are supplied water through tankers at a cost of Rs 63.13 lakh.

Kagodu said the DC should strictly instruct the VAs and PDOs to report periodically. Water should be supplied on a priority basis. He also directed the DC to send a report pertaining to the problematic DC Manna land which would help the government to decide over the alternative land for the beneficiaries, in case the earmarked land is preoccupied by other dwellers for several years. As Udupi district has been declared as drought-hit, each taluk would receive a grant of Rs 1.20 crore for relief works.