Curation Team
BENGALURU: After granting B-khata status to properties in unauthorised layouts under various urban local bodies, the govt is now considering a one-time settlement (OTS) scheme to upgrade such properties to A-khata.
Urban development minister BS Suresha made the announcement in the legislative council Tuesday, amid criticism from the opposition over the ongoing E-khata controversy.
Responding to opposition demands for a review, Suresha said, “B-khata provides owners with legal documents for their properties. Now we are considering upgrading such properties to A-khata by introducing a one-time settlement (OTS).”
The move comes after BJP and JD(S) members slammed the govt for what they termed the failure of its E-khata initiative.
“More than providing relief to citizens, E-khata has become ‘enforcement khata’ and citizens are being unnecessarily harassed and put to hardships,” said BJP’s KS Naveen. “Obtaining E-khata after crossing multiple hurdles does not allow citizens to construct houses or other buildings as this is merely a piece of paper.”
Clarifying the govt’s position, Suresha said, “Several illegal layouts have sprung up in towns and cities and citizens have bought properties without any valid documents of land conversion or plan approval from competent authorities. Our ambitious programme of providing B-khata helped them secure valid and legal khatas and entitled them to use govt roads and other infrastructural facilities. But B-khata does not mean they can begin construction or other activity on converted revenue land.”
To this, BJP’s CT Ravi asked: “Then, what purpose would B-khata serve if people are not entitled to build a house on their property?”
During the debate, Suresha also tabled data showing that 2,747 acres of agricultural land had been converted for non-agricultural purposes in the past two years, with Dharwad district topping the list at 395 acres, followed by Mysuru (361.2 acres) and Chitradurga (280 acres).
