Mangaluru City South MLA D. Vedavyasa Kamath addresses a press conference at Atal Seva Kendra in Mangaluru on Wednesday.

| Photo Credit: H.S. MANJUNATH

Mangaluru City South MLA D. Vedavyasa Kamath on Wednesday alleged that the State government was forcing people living within the jurisdiction of the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) to run from pillar to post by transferring the power for land conversion from the Revenue Department to the Mangaluru Urban Development Authority (MUDA).Speaking to reporters, the MLA said surveyors under the Revenue Department had so far been conducting land surveys and preparing sketches for land conversion. The Department then issued conversion certificates. A few days ago, the government transferred this power to MUDA for lands in urban areas. Hence, MUDA will have to issue conversion certificates for lands in Mangaluru city.The government transferred power without recruiting enough surveyors and other staff for MUDA. Officials at MUDA are now not processing land conversion applications, saying they do not have the power to prepare sketches, and that only surveyors under the revenue department are authorised to do so. MUDA is asking people to approach the Revenue Department and obtain sketches, without which conversion certificates cannot be issued. On the other hand, the Revenue Department is asking people to approach MUDA. Hence, the government is making people run between MUDA and the Revenue Department, the MLA said.Mr. Kamath said the government had issued an order to transfer the power in a hurry even though the MUDA officials were not prepared for the change.He said that without a land conversion certificate, people in urban areas are unable to sell or purchase land.Mr. Kamath said he had written about the issue to the secretaries of the Revenue Department and MUDA. “I have handed over a letter to the Revenue Minister on the issue and will hand over the letter to the Urban Development Minister soon,” he said.The MLA alleged that the government was harassing people by making simple tasks complicated. “This will only increase corruption,” he said, adding that the government was set to lose revenue as no new land conversion was taking place in Mangaluru.Former mayor Premananda Shetty was present. Published - July 08, 2026 07:53 pm IST