Govt should forcibly take back encroached land: Kagodu Thimmappa

Bengaluru, Jan 17: Revenue Minister Kagodu Thimmappa has said that the government should take back its encroached land, irrespective of the encroachers.

In an interaction with reporters on Monday, the minister said the government should forcibly take back the land which has been encroached upon. “When proper land records are not available, how one can one get pahani and complete mutation process?” he wondered.

When reporters sought his reaction on complaints against Justice Vishwanath Shetty, retired judge, of purchasing a piece of an encroached Gomala land in Yelahanka, Thimmappa said, “I am not ready to give any comments. Leave it. It is difficult to get a person to head the Lokayukta.” Shetty is the government's choice for the Lokayukta's post.

To a question regarding the government planning to get the Supreme Court stay vacated related to regularisation of structures and violation of building byelaws in urban areas, the minister said, “You may say that we should act against encroachments. But I will have to give evasive replies. I am just a minister and not chief minister. If I was the chief minister, then I would have given a right reply.”

When asked to comment on the controversial NICE project, he said, “Our predecessors have left filth in giving the approval and implementation of the project. We are cleaning it.”