Sites scam: Allotted land will be taken back, says Karnataka minister

Bengaluru: Even as the alternative sites scam continued to rock the Legislative Assembly on Tuesday, Bengaluru Development Minister, K J George informed the House that the government had accepted the report of the Dr Shashidhar Committee and taken steps to retrieve the alternative sites allotted to a developer, Hanumanthe Gowda.

The government was also bringing in a law to make sure the compensation was given to the actual landowner giving up his property and not a general power of attorney ( GPA) holder, he revealed. “The BDA commissioner has been told not to use any land for development work if it has been acquired as per law,” the minister added.

As for the grant of two acres to Shantha Industries, run by a business partner of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's son, Dr Yathindra, Mr George claimed there was nothing illegal about it.

A petition challenging the allotment had been dismissed by the Karnataka High Court, which found nothing illegal about it, he explained. Opposition leader, Jagadish Shettar and Yelahanka MLA, Vishwanath, however, countered that while the Dr Shashidhar committee report dealt with only 14 sites allotted to Mr Hanumanthe Gowda, there was evidence to show he had been given 41sites in all.

They argued the committee must be given more time to delve into the scam more fully. But when the government refused to give in and extend the term of the Dr Shashidhar committee, the BJP members staged a walkout in protest.