The state government has freezed the allotment of sites under discretionary quota (G category sites) from May 19 last year, disclosed Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar in the legislative assembly on Wednesday.
The CM was replying to a query raised by independent member Goolihatti Shekar on the status of G category sites. Mr Shekar, while drawing the attention of the government to a high court order, said the government had no powers to allot sites and observed that in the last 10 years, 867 sites had been alloted. “Though the high court gave its verdict on December 15, 2010, the government continued allotments to 48 people. This is contempt of court. The government should withdraw all the 867 sites allotted to many including a few journalists," he said adding that these sites should be auctioned which could fetch hundreds of crores.
However, Mr Shettar denied the allegations made by Mr Shekar and said that after 2010, only two cases were considered and one site allotted. Bangalore Development Authority(BDA) referred the matter to a legal team which had given its advice in May last year. "After obtaining legal opinion, the government freezed all allotments under the discretionary quota," Mr Shettar clarified.
Unesco tag will hit tribal life: Minister
Forest minister C.P. Yogeshwar has fiercely defended the Karnataka government’s opposition to the Unesco tag for Western Ghats. Replying to a question raised by JD(S) leader M.C. Nanaiah in the Legislative Council, the minister said the government had written two letters to the Centre opposing the tag as it feared the global status would disrupt lives of people including tribals in the Western Ghats.
“The government is trying to start a debate on the issue and obtain a feedback from people as we cannot ignore popular sentiment though intellectuals have been pressiung for the tag. However, we have not received a official communication from eithr the Centre or Unesco regarding the special status,” claimed Mr Yogeshwar.
Mr Nanaiah urged the government to enlighten people about the pros and cons of the Unesco tag before taking a clear stand. The minister also informed the House that 10 spots had been declared World Heritage sites namely sanctuaries such as Pushpagiri, Brahmagiri, Someshwar and Tala Cauvery, the reserved forests of Pedinalkanad, Keerthi, Someshwar, Agumbe and Balahalli and Kudremukh national park. “We already have forest laws to protect these areas. So, the state government has written a letter to the Centre on July 7, 2012 seeking reconsideration of the decision as there is immense resistance from local communities and elected representatives,” said Mr Yogeshwar.