Date:09/07/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/07/09/stories/2008070957290300.htm

Karnataka

Revenue officials pulled up for laxity

Staff Correspondent

Over 25 lakh ‘podi’ cases pending
in State
E-village scheme
to be extended
to all villages

DAVANGERE: Revenue Minister K. Karunkara Reddy warned the revenue officials of stringent action if they failed to dispose of the applications of the widows, the aged and the handicapped within 20 days of receipt. He said he was open to complaints about any revenue official delaying the applications.

Talking to reporters at Oblapura village in Harpanahalli taluk today, Mr. Reddy said he had noticed a lot of laxity in the department and hence decided to revamp and streamline it.

“I do not spare any official right from the village accountant to the Deputy Commissioner if found negligent in attending to people’s problems,” the Minister said. Mr. Reddy said he had decided to hold revenue officials’ meeting at regional level where he would tell the officers that only if they worked sincerely they would stay in the department.

The Minister said that Bangalore region revenue officials’ meeting was on Friday and those in Gulbarga, Belgaum and other districts would be held in the coming days. Mr. Reddy said that there were over 25 lakh “podi” cases pending and he had plans to dispose of these cases and provide a clear document on the lands people had possessed for years. There were over 1,600 private surveyors to help with the process, he added.

Rain guage centres would be set up at gram panchayat level, he said. E-village scheme would be extended to all villages so that people would not only get “pahani” and other documents at their doorsteps but could also book railway and bus tickets besides getting information about rates for various crops.

Mahabaleshwara Gowda, former Davangere Zilla Panchayat member and BJP leader, was with Mr. Karunakara Reddy.