Karnataka govt distributes 17,000 possession certificates to poor

BANGALORE: The Karnataka government on Tuesday distributed 17,000 possession certificates to the poor, who have built houses illegally on government and revenue lands, on the occasion of 'Gandhi Jayanthi'.
    
"Honouring its long pending promise, the government has cleared 17,000 applications out of 37,000 received and is distributing the possession certificates to these people," Chief Minister H D Kumraswamy said while giving away the certificates at a function here.
    
He flayed the officials for 'favouring influential land sharks who have built huge complexes on government lands producing false documents' and coming down on the poor who have invested their life's savings on their dwellings.
    
"This trend needs to be checked and must be put an end to. We must ensure that the poor get their due," he said.
    
Deputy Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa detailed the programmes being implemented by the government for the welfare of the people.
    
Revenue Minister Jagadish Shettar, Minister for Industries, Katta Subramanya Naidu and Health Minister, R Ashok were also present.