BANGALORE, July 25: The Karnataka Government will reach a decision on the demand for general amnesty laid down by the dreaded sandalwood smuggler Veerappan by Saturday evening, Forest Minister Gurupadappa Nagamarpally announced Friday.

Speaking to the press, Nagamarpally said the State Director General of Police had brought the video cassette, recorded by Nakkeeran editor Gopalan, from Madras and they were yet to watch it. ``We'll meet the chief minister and will soon arrive at a decision. As the issue is very sensitive I don't want to make any comments at this juncture,'' he said.

Stating that the Forest Department had recently received Rs 30 crore aid from the World Bank for developing the Nagarahole Reserve Forest and also for the rehabilitation of the tribals in the forest, he revealed that many families had agreed to the resettlement. Nagamarpally added that they would be relocated on the fringes of the forest. Whereas, for raising Devara kadu in the proposed 138 taluks in the state, the Department had received a Rs 10-crore slab of a total Rs 546 crore assistance promised by the Japanese Government from its Overseas Economic Cooperation Fund(OECF).

Also, the Department had recently availed of a Rs 3.5 crore grant sanctioned by the Norwegian Government for developing Chamundi Hills. Meanwhile the cabinet sub-committee, the advisory body for Government outlay cuts, could not arrive at a decision at Friday's meeting.

The Committee is understood to have asked the Chief Secretary to submit a detailed report, including steps taken by neighbouring States on the issue, at its next meet.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.