JOIN USNo industries on fertile land: CM
“Industries would be set up only on dry and barren land,” Chief he added.
Speaking to mediapersons at Hubli Airport Friday morning, he said the government order on reversing the process of acquisition of land to enable Posco set up steel plant in Mundaragi taluk of Gadag district, has been handed over to Thontada Siddhalinga Swamiji by the Deputy Commissioner of Gadag.
Only dry and barren land, and not fertile land, would be acquired for setting up industries. For total development, industrialisation and agriculture should go hand in hand, he said.
Around 20 projects signed during the Global Investors’ Meet held last year have started operations, and more than 200 projects are in different stages of progress, Yeddyurappa said.
Opposition parties have lost their vote bank in the State, and by implementing more development works in the coming two years, the Opposition parties would be weakened further, he noted.
Later, he also revealed that the State Cabinet would be expanded after the Hindu month of Ashadha, after discussing the issue with the party’s national leaders.
72 pc ready
Major and Medium Industry Minister Murugesh Nirani told newsmen that in Mundaragi taluk of Gadag District, nearly 72 per cent of farmers were ready to give their land, but some persons who are not engaged in farming activities opposed the land acquisition, Nirani added.
The government has acquired 78,000 acres of land so far, and if it can acquire 0.5 per cent more of the available land, there would be no need to acquire any more land for industrialisation in the coming decades, Nirani said.
Environment protection will also be kept in mind while taking policy decisions regarding industries, he said.
The minister said the contribution of the industries and services sector to the State’s income is 56 per cent, while agriculture sector contributes around 14 per cent.
Govt to lease, not sell land
Draft amendments to the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB) Act had been prepared, that would require the government to provide land to industries on lease and not on sale, Major and Medium Industries Minister Murugesh Nirani said here on Friday.
Addressing pressmen, he said steel plant projects would be given five years from the date of handing over the land, to set up the project.
The draft amendments were aimed at avoiding possible confusion during land acquisiton and to enable farmers to sign agreements with the companies while handing over the land.
The draft amendments had been circulated among industrialists, farmers, and others to elicit their opinion, Nirani said.