The Karnataka Assembly on Thursday passed the Karnataka Land Revenue (Amendment) Bill, 2012 which empowers the State government to regularise unauthorised constructions built on government land.

All dwelling units unauthorisedly built on government land prior to January 1, 2012 will be covered under the law for regularisation.

However, houses built unauthorisedly on government land coming under Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (city corporation), city municipal corporations and town municipal corporations will not be regularised.

Existing government approved conditions for eligibility under ‘Ashraya Housing Scheme’ shall apply in toto and the area actually occupied by the built-up house or built-up area up to 2,400 sq feet, whichever is less, shall be regularised, Revenue Minister K.S. Eswarappa said while moving the Bill for consideration.

Several members from the ruling BJP, Opposition Congress and JDS wanted government to extend the benefit to those unauthorised dwellings in urban areas, including cities, but the government said it would bring in a separate amendment for these sections.

Congress leader Siddaramaiah and other leaders demanded that the government should provide at least 60-day deadline to facilitate applications for regularisation.