Bengaluru, Nov 5 (PTI) The Karnataka Cabinet on Thursday approved leasing four acres of land belonging to the Bangalore Turf Club (BTC) to it for 30 years, while deciding to reclaim the remaining government land on the premises and develop it on its own.
The decision comes amid the ongoing debate over the future of the racecourse.
“Regarding the Turf Club, its land lease had come up for revision. The Cabinet has approved granting them four acres of land on a lease basis,” the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Eshwar Khandre told reporters after the Cabinet meeting.
He clarified that the four acres would be leased for 30 years, while the remaining land would be taken back by the government.
No final decision had been taken on shifting
the Turf Club, he said, adding that it had sought time to relocate. The issue of handing over the land to private laboratories was not discussed in the Cabinet.
On the conduct of local body elections, Khandre said the government had decided to use ballot papers instead of electronic voting machines (EVMs), and had made financial provisions for purchasing ballot boxes.
“The decision has already been taken to conduct elections through ballot papers. We have also provided funds for the purchase of ballot boxes. The issue has been discussed in the Cabinet, and all necessary steps have been taken. There is no question of reconsidering it,” he said.
However, the government had not yet taken a final decision on whether a fresh voters’ list would be prepared or the existing electoral rolls would be used. The State Election Commission, an autonomous body, would decide when to hold the elections, he added.
On the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) probationers’ issue, the minister said the government would explore legal avenues, including filing a review petition in the Supreme Court, to secure justice for the candidates following the apex court’s verdict against their appointments.
The Supreme Court on October 29 declared as unconstitutional, a Karnataka law aimed at validating appointments made under the disputed 2011 recruitment process for gazetted probationary officers. This decision, delivered by a bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and K V Chandran, underscores that the legislature cannot overturn judicial rulings that have already upheld the cancellation of a selection process.
The minister said the issue was not discussed at the Cabinet meeting, but he expressed his personal view that the candidates should be given a fair opportunity.
“So far, no investigation report has found them guilty. Based on the available information, both Houses of the Legislature had taken a decision to appoint them. However, the Supreme Court has delivered a verdict against them. The government will make sincere efforts to secure justice for them, either by filing a review petition or by pursuing the matter through appropriate legal channels,” he said.
Rejecting suggestions that some of the candidates were tainted, Khandre said no investigation report had identified any of them as guilty.
“Does anyone have evidence to show who is tainted. There is no such information available,” he said, adding that the Criminal Investigation Department report had not identified anyone as tainted and that the candidates had cleared competitive examinations.
The minister said the government would place the relevant facts before the SC and attempt to convince it of its position.
In other Cabinet decisions, the government approved the purchase of robotic surgery equipment worth Rs 40 crore for the Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology in Bengaluru and the Karnataka Medical College and Research Institute in Hubballi.
Each institution would receive equipment worth Rs 20 crore, of which Rs 15 crore would be provided through government grants and Rs 5 crore from the respective institutions’ internal resources. The project is targeted for completion within six months.
The Cabinet also approved a Rs 28.01 crore action plan for Information, Education and Communication (IEC) activities under the National Health Mission.
It cleared the construction of a multi-level parking facility at the Malpe Fishing Harbour in Udupi district under the public-private partnership model, with an investment of Rs 8.43 crore by the concessionaire.
The facility, spread over 1,800 square metres, is intended to ease congestion at the harbour, which receives more than 7,000 visitors daily and accommodates around 3,000 registered fishing boats.
The Cabinet also granted administrative approval for industrial sheds costing Rs 26.10 crore at Muddebihal in Vijayapura district and Haralahalli in Ballari district’s Kampli taluk to encourage small-scale industries and generate local employment.
It further approved a 10.6-km railway barricade project costing Rs 16.83 crore in the Male Mahadeshwara Wildlife Sanctuary in Chamarajanagar district to address human-wildlife conflict and protect around 2,942 farming families.
The Cabinet okayed a Bill to establish the Sannati Development Authority for the development of the ancient Buddhist centre in Kalaburagi district, which is known for its Ashokan inscriptions and Buddhist relics. The Bill will be introduced in the forthcoming session of the Legislature.
Separately, Khandre said there had been discussions about increasing financial assistance to farmers from Rs 2,500 to Rs 5,000. PTI GMS GMS SA
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