Belagavi: Revenue Minister Kagodu Thimmappa on Tuesday informed the Legislative Assembly that the state government was in favour of providing land to the landless and the allotment would be done at the gram panchayat level.

He was replying to a question raised by Leader of the Opposition Jagadish Shettar that the government was yet to respond to the protest being staged by freedom fighter H S Doreswamy near the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha here demanding land and houses for the poor.

Shettar said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had sought blessings of Doreswamy soon after taking oath as chief minister, but had not talked to him despite his protest entering the third day on Tuesday.

Thimmappa said that the memorandum submitted by Doreswamy had been accepted. “The government has decided to make land available to the landless and, those seeking housing should apply with the gram panchayats,” he said.

Siddaramaiah said the Revenue department would conduct survey of lands available for allotment.

“We have an open mind to make housing available for all and we plan to implement the same in stages,” he said.

“Did people stop drinking after the then government in 2007 banned arrack? …Nothing changed. Instead, people took to consuming Indian Made Liquor (IML).” This is how Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday tried to counter the Opposition parties in the Assembly, which charged his government with promoting the sale of liquor.

Sale of IML shot up ever since arrack was banned and, therefore, revenue to the government from the Excise department increased. “I have directed the officials to take strict action against those who are selling liquor illegally,” he said.

He also said the government is expecting revenue of Rs 16,000 crore from the Excise department in the current financial year.