Don’t sell govt land to fill empty coffers: Ex-Karnataka CM HD Kumaraswamy

Politics

Kumaraswamy urged the Karnataka government to reconsider its decision as these lands can be used for public amenities if there is a need in the future.

TNM Staff

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Former Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy on Tuesday cautioned the BS Yediyurappa government against selling vacant or leased out government land in Bengaluru and other urban areas in the state. In a series of tweets, Kumaraswamy said that the government’s decision to fill empty coffers amid the COVID-19 pandemic is unsustainable. He said that instead, the government should concentrate on increasing the rent of these lands. He further said that the decision will also mean that future governments won’t have space to build offices or other amenities for the public if a need arises. “If the leased land is sold under the jurisdiction of local bodies, including BBMP (Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike), there will be no government land for further public purposes. When the need arises, a private position is to be arranged in front of them,” he said in one of the tweets. He added, “The government, which is auctioning off BDA (Bangalore Development Authority) sites to fill the coffers, is now keeping an eye on local leased land. The government cannot permanently fill the coffers with such temporary reliefs.” He urged the government to withdraw this proposal as it will likely cost the government a loss of Rs 5,000 crore in the long run. ಕೋವಿಡ್19 ಪರಿಸ್ಥಿತಿ ಎದುರಾದ ನಂತರ ಆರ್ಥಿಕ ಸಂಕಷ್ಟಕ್ಕೆ ಸಿಲುಕಿರುವ ರಾಜ್ಯ ಸರ್ಕಾರದ ಈ ನಿರ್ಧಾರ ಭವಿಷ್ಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಮುಳುವಾಗಲಿದೆ. ಕವಡೆ ಕಾಸಿಗೆ ಸ್ಥಳೀಯ ಸಂಸ್ಥೆಗಳ ಜಮೀನನ್ನು ಗುತ್ತಿಗೆ ನೀಡಿರುವ ಸರ್ಕಾರ ಮಾರಾಟ ನಿರ್ಧಾರ ಕೈಬಿಟ್ಟು, ಬಾಡಿಗೆ ಹೆಚ್ಚಿಸಲು ಮುಂದಾಗಬೇಕು. 2/5 — H D Kumaraswamy (@hd_kumaraswamy) August 18, 2020 ಬೊಕ್ಕಸ ತುಂಬಿಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳಲು ಬಿಡಿಎ ನಿವೇಶನಗಳನ್ನು ಹರಾಜು ಹಾಕುತ್ತಿರುವ ಸರ್ಕಾರ ಇದೀಗ ಸ್ಥಳೀಯ ಸಂಸ್ಥೆಗಳ ಗುತ್ತಿಗೆ ನೀಡಿರುವ ಜಮೀನಿನ ಮೇಲೆ ಕಣ್ಣಿಟ್ಟಿದೆ. ಇಂತಹ ತಾತ್ಕಾಲಿಕ ಉಪಶಮನಗಳಿಂದ ಸರ್ಕಾರ ಶಾಶ್ವತವಾಗಿ ಬೊಕ್ಕಸ ತುಂಬಿಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳಲು ಸಾಧ್ಯವಿಲ್ಲ. 4/5 — H D Kumaraswamy (@hd_kumaraswamy) August 18, 2020 Karnataka CM BS Yediyurappa in mid-April had announced that the government will auction around 12,000 corner sites (sites that are located at the corner of a road) owned by the Bengaluru Development Authority and other civic bodies, to mobilise funds to tackle the pandemic situation. At that time, activists had pointed out that this was not a prudent decision as it will fetch the government lower costs, as the economy is depressed, and will only benefit a select few influential individuals or companies. Incidentally, the Karnataka High Court has temporarily restrained the government from auctioning intermediary sites based on a petition filed by an aggrieved buyer. The BDA had reportedly cancelled the allotment for his site for this exercise. 

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