Poor response to khata conversation scheme

BENGALURU: Deputy Chief Minister’s DK Shivakumar’s ambitious project has turned out to be a complete failure. The conversion of B-khata to A‑khata has received a lukewarm response from property owners. At the Bengaluru Central Corporation, only five applications have been filed while in the remaining four corporation, only about 1,500 applications have been filed all together.

The Urban Development Department has given a golden opportunity to B‑khata holders by allowing conversion to A‑khata by paying 5 per cent of the guidance value. However, Deputy CM Shivakumar’s high‑profile A‑khata conversion plan has evoked poor response.

There were also plans to raise awareness about submitting applications. Moreover, Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy criticised the scheme, advising property owners not to pay money to get an A‑khata and that a JD(S)-led government do it at no cost when it comes to power.

Kumaraswamy’s claims seem to have caused a stir as people are reportedly not coming forward to apply. Even at the BengaluruOne centres, there is no provision to apply for A-khata. The Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) and teh Urban Development Department may need to analyse why people are hesitant to apply for the scheme.