The State executive committee headed by Governor Rameshwar Thakur gave permission to Ittina cement, a private firm, to purchase 975 acre of farm land to carry out lime quarry and set up a cement factory in Chitapur taluk of Gulbarga district.

Ittina is among of five private firms which got permission, on Friday, to purchase a total of 1,344 acre of farm land to set up their business in various parts of the State.

As per the section 109 of Karnataka Land Reforms Act, the Government’s permission is necessary for private firms to purchase farm land and to start a commercial venture. Approval has been given to a requisition made by these firms in this regard, Krishna Kumar one of the Governor’s Advisors told reporters after holding the executive committee meeting.

Other four firms are: Sadashiva Sugars (105.35 acres in Bagalkot) Sri Gavisiddeshwara Vidya Verdaka Trust (103.33 acres in Koppal), Godrej Agro Net (59.69 acres in Kollegal) and Century Seeds (28.03 acres in Heriyur). These firms have to purchase agriculture land directly from farmers and the Government will not play any role in the process, Krishna Kumar said.

Amendment

The Executive Committee gave its approval to amend the Karnataka Co-operative Societies Act, to empower co-operative societies to take independent decision on recruitment of staff, increase in salary and other administrative matters without seeking permission of Registrar of Societies.

But this will apply to only those who fulfil these two conditions. The expenditure of such societies should not exceed 2 per cent of their annual turnover and they must be making profit, P P Prabhu, another Advisor of the Governor said.

The executive committee also approved construction of a State-level marketing complex at the cost Rs 7.4 crore near Lakkasandra village on Bannerghatta Road in Bangalore. Products manufactured by stree shakti groups like ready-to-eat, artifacts, garments and others, will be allowed to market there.