The ordinance replacement bill, which met with stiff resistance from the Opposition parties on Wednesday, proposes to enable the government to identify safer zones for relocating stone crushing units that are causing heavy damage to environment.
The Opposition parties had raised objections to the bill, saying guidelines issued by the High Court of Karnataka in identifying safer zones had not been followed.
Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister S Suresh Kumar, who piloted the bill, said the court guidelines were practically impossible to follow.
Hence, on the recommendation of a high-level committee headed by Justice R Gururajan, the government has decided to enact a legislation so that some relaxation can be sought under exceptional circumstances.
The High Court had, in 1998, directed the State government to identify “safe zones” for locating stone-crushing units and had stipulated certain strict guidelines.
The High Court order was later upheld by the Supreme Court.
As per the High Court guidelines, safe zones should be two km away from the national highways, habitats, temples, schools and rivers, 1.5 km from the state highways, 500 metres from a link road, eight km from the municipal corporations, four km from the district headquarters and two km from the taluk headquarters.
The Law Minister assured the House that the government would incorporate all suggestions given by the members, while framing the rules.
The bill was finally approved with a voice vote. Earlier in the day, Suresh Kumar held a meeting with leaders of the Congress and the JD(S) and elicited their opinion on certain provisions of the bill.
Other bills
The Assembly also passed the Karnataka Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes (Reservation of Appointment, etc.) (Amendment) Bill, 2011, which seeks to take stringent action against those who obtain fake caste certificates, and the Karnataka Motor Vehicles Taxation (Second Amendment) Bill, 2011, which seeks to extend the benefit of tax concession on vehicles owned by Central government employees who have already paid lifetime tax in other States, before their transfer to Karnataka, and the Karnataka Societies Registration (Amendment) Bill, 2011, seeking to fix a time limit for the Registrar to accept or reject an amendment to rules and regulations submitted by a Society.
Besides, the Karnataka Appropriation Bill, 2011, the Sahyadri Heritage Development Authority Bill, 2011, and the Karnataka Town and Country Planning (Amendment) Bill, 2011, were tabled in the House.