Bengaluru:  Revenue Minister Kagodu Thimmappa has said that the deadline for submitting applications for Akrama-Sakrama (regularisation) has been further extended to Feb.26.

Thimmappa recently said that the bureaucracy is not responding to the Government’s Akrama-Sakrama scheme aimed at regularisation of houses constructed on Government land.

Considering that the Revenue Authorities have not followed the Government direction on Akrama-Sakrama in letter and spirit, it was decided that the deadline should be extended to                       Feb.26, he said.

Regretting that elected representatives were not taking any interest in creating awareness among the people about the scheme, Thimmappa said that he would appeal to members to play an active role in the process.

Despite all efforts, only about two lakh applications have been cleared so far and another five lakh applications are pending.

“Serious action will be initiated against Panchayat Development Officers (PDOs) and Village Accountants (VAs) for failure to implement the Government’s ambitious initiative of providing shelter to all,” he warned.

Noting that more than three lakh people in Karnataka, especially in Uttara Kannada, Dharwad and Belagavi districts have not filed applications seeking occupancy rights under the Inams Abolition Act, the Minister said that the Government has decided to amend the Act in order to provide them an opportunity to claim occupancy rights. To facilitate the beneficiaries, 14 Sections under the Act need to be amended, he added.

He expressed regret at the fact that elected representatives over the years had failed to take the benefits of the Land Reforms Act and Inams Abolition Act to the poor and the landless.

To a query on the status of newly-formed taluks in the State, Thimmappa said that 50 new taluks would become functional by the end of the month.

Attributing the delay to lack of administrative preparation in five taluks, he said the Government will be releasing Rs. 5 crore for setting up Taluk Office and other infrastructure and of the 160 Tahsildars, who are undergoing training, 50 will take charge in the new taluks.