Mysore, May 22: V Sreenivas Prasad says govt will not succumb to any pressure
Revenue minister V Sreenivas Prasad on Wednesday asserted that the government would act according to the law in relation to the controversy surrounding nearly 2,000 acres of land around Chamundi Hills in the city.
Addressing his maiden press conference after assuming his new role as a minister, Prasad who also hails from the city said that he is well aware of the issue that snowballed into a major controversy after the then deputy commissioner P S Vastrad (now commissioner of heritage) changed the status of land of survey numbers four, 41 and 33 from ‘B’ kharab to ‘A’ kharab in Aramane Kaval area (belonging to erstwhile royal family) around the hill.
Clarity
Replying to a volley of posers pertaining to the row, Prasad said it is imperative to gain clarity over the claims made by the royal family on the land, as the agreement between the then union home ministry and the royal family dated back to the year 1950. “We need to find out whether the royal family enjoyed its special privilege then even after the cancellation of privy purse,” Prasad added.
Prasad, however succinctly said that he would discuss the matter with both the chief minister and the advocate general as the issue (as some of the land holders in the surroundings of Chamundi Hill have moved court) is sub judice.
Reports
Prasad said that the government would not succumb to any pressure in tackling the land mafia. When reminded of the existing reports on land mafia in the city submitted by the then deputy commissioner T M Vijaybhaskar and M K Baladevakrishna Committee, the Minister said that a decision had been already taken over the findings of the reports by the then chief minister J H Patel. Prasad also assured to disclose the decision later.
He also said that the government would take a re-look into the demand for land that has stymied the already proposed railway medical college in the city. On the revenue layouts, Prasad said that as is the procedure, the law entitled revenue site holders and also residents for regularisation of the same under ‘Akrama Sakrama’. The beneficiaries here are poor only, and the security of economically weaker sections cannot be ignored.
Lesson in BJP defeat
The humiliating defeat of the previous State government headed by the BJP in the recently concluded Assembly elections should be a lesson for the Congress party to tread cautiously, said Revenue Minister V Sreenivas Prasad.
Prasad said that as projected by the media in the run up to the elections, Congress had ascended power in the State. The government has to ensure transparency and corruption free administration, he added. Prasad exuded confidence that he will discharge the duties as a minister with responsibility.
