The Karnataka government has selected Halaga Bastawad area on National Highway (NH) 4 in Belgaum to house Suvarna Soudha. The state cabinet, which met here on Wednesday, has given its approval to acquire 108 acres of land from 140 farmers in Halaga Bastawad to construct Suvarna Soudha to hold permanent legislative sessions in north Karnataka.
Last year, the legislative session was held in a temporary accommodation in KLE Society’s campus and the government was on the lookout for a permanent location to house Suvarna Soudha in Belgaum.
Briefing reporters after the Cabinet meeting, Karnataka rural development and panchayatraj minister Shobha Karandlaje said: “The Cabinet has given its approval to the Karnataka Legislative Assembly Speaker’s report recommending Halaga Bastawad area for constructing Suvarna Soudha.”
“The exact quantum of compensation will be determined after detailed discussion with the farmers. For the Suvarna Soudha construction, a sum of Rs 70 crore has already been earmarked,” she added.
She said the cabinet also approved taking back 16 acres of land allotted to Karnataka Agro Industries Limited in Bangalore on Bellary Road and reallocating it to build a housing complex for state ministers. Of the 33 ministers, 18 have permanent quarters and the rest are living in rented houses in the city.
On the 16 acres of land, about 10,000 square feet each will be allotted to build ministerial quarters and the rest will be utilised as common areas or for creation of recreational facilities, she added. The ministerial housing complex is to come up next to international flower auction centre on Bellary road in Hebbal.
The Cabinet has also approved waiver of stamp duty for land occupied by the Bangalore Metro Rail project.
More From This Section
“The Metro Rail project through various state government schemes has got 50 per cent stamp duty waiver. In addition to this, another 50 per cent waiver has been approved,” said Karandlaje.
The Cabinet has instructed the state chief secretary to negotiate with manufactures to cut down prices of bicycles. The state government plans to procure bicycles for distribution to below poverty line (BPL) girls studying in high schools to increase the attendance in schools.
Companies participating in the state government tender are Hero Cycles, Atlas Cycles, A1 Cycles and TI Cycles. Steel prices have come down and also a committee headed by state chief secretary had detected that prices quoted for a similar tender in Tamil Nadu was much lower than Karnataka, she said.
The cabinet has told the chief secretary to hold discussions with bicycles manufactures to reduce prices, if they are not lowered significantly then chief secretary should call for re-tender, she added.