CAG report finds major anomalies in allotment of Karnataka govt land

Highlighting huge discrepancies and irregularities in allotment of government land, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has recommended that the state government compile a historical electronic database of all land grants and leases to individuals and institutions. In its report, ‘Grant, Lease, Eviction of Encroachment and Regularisation of Unauthorised Occupation of Government Land’, tabled in the assembly on Monday, the CAG said it had found that the state government had — despite the Karnataka Land Revenue Rules specifically prohibiting it — extended as grants or leased out land reserved for public purposes. The findings came from sample studies in 30 taluks of 11 districts in which the CAG checked the status of grants of land between 2012 and 2016. “The state government must take a relook at the grant of public land, which is prohibited under rules,” the report said, underlining several ambiguities in fixing of lease amounts. The report also expressed concern over lack of due diligence in protection of government land. “This is evident from the fact that a significant number of public complaints on encroachments of government land have been pending for over five years,” the report stated. As of March 2017, 4.48 lakh acres of government land had been encroached, with no new encroachments listed after August 2013, the report said. The CAG suggested that the government evolve a mechanism to cross-verify claims made by the applicants for regularisation of land for the purpose of housing.