Here are the big stories from Karnataka today

Karnataka Today newsletter: BJP fact-finding team on Waqf land row interacts with Vijayapura farmers, and more

Following allegations by a section of farmers from Vijayapura district that their lands were marked as Waqf properties, CM Sidddaramaiah on October 29, 2024, said none of them will be evicted, and notices issued to them will be withdrawn.

Seeking to clarify “confusion” over 1,200 acres in Honavada of Tikota taluk being marked as Waqf property, M.B. Patil had recently said it was due to an “error” in the gazette notification. He also had said only 11 acres out of the 1,200 acres are Waqf properties, and a task force headed by the Deputy Commissioner will be formed to resolve the issues.

Meanwhile, a fact-finding team of BJP leaders visited Padaganur village in Devarhipparagi taluk in Vijayapura district to meet farmers who have complained of receiving notices from the Waqf board claiming ownership of their land. MP Govind Karjol, who interacted with farmers, said, “The Congress government has hatched a conspiracy to claim land under the Sri Somalingeshwar temple said to be of Chalukyan times, in Padaganur village.”

The Karnataka Cabinet has cleared a proposal to rehabilitate 16 families residing within Saragodu reserved forest in Mudigere taluk of Chikkamagaluru district. With this, around 60 members of these families will get a chance to move out of the forest enclosed by solar fencing. They have been residing in the thick forest, braving wild animals and lacking basic amenities.

The Cabinet has given its consent to allot 33 acres and 24 guntas of land to them at Haduoni in Balur hobli of Mudigere taluk. Each family will get two acres of land to cultivate, besides four guntas to build a house. Chikkamagaluru district administration had sent a proposal to the government to allot the land recovered from encroachers at Haduoni. Now, this proposal has been approved.

Secretary in-charge of Mandya district Anbu Kumar has issued a 15-day deadline to the district administration to fill up the lakes in the district. Despite good rains this year, a few lakes are not full, and Mr. Kumar has directed officials to take steps to fill all the lakes. The reason could be the encroachment of areas through which the rain water flows into these lakes.

Deputy Commissioner Dr. Kumara said out of 969 lakes, only 448 lakes are full while 132 lakes have over 75% water. As many as 120 lakes are 50% to 75% full, and another 122 lakes are 25 to 50% full. The remaining 143 lakes are less than 25% full, he explained.