JOIN USSeveral important bills including an amendment bill to the Karnataka Land Reforms Act, 2012, that proposes to allow farmers to lease out their land to agri-business companies are in the line-up during the legislature session commencing Thursday.
Assembly Speaker K G Bopaiah told reporters in Bangalore on Wednesday that a total of 10 bills will be taken up during the session.
Once the amendment to the Land Reforms Act is effected, the farmers can lease out their land to agro companies for a specified period. Cultivation and harvest of the farm produce will have to be taken up by the private players.
The eight-day session, scheduled to conclude on July 30, will also witness consequential finance bills related to the budget proposals for 2012-13 being taken up.
An amendment bill that proposes to collect two per cent cess on property tax on finance initiatives and capacity building in urban transport will also be taken up.
The Karnataka Municipal Corporations and Certain Other Law (Second amendment) Bill, 2012, proposes to levy the cess for the purpose of promoting sustainable urban transport systems and infrastructure.
The government is anticipating to raise Rs 20 crore per annum by levying the cess. The cess will form part of the State Urban Transport Fund, which among others will be utilised for implementing projects relating to urban transport. Bills to provide statutory status to two private universities - Manipal University and Arka University will be taken up during the session. Manipal University is promoted and owned by Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) and will come up in Doddaballapur.
Arka is promoted by Arka Educational and Cultural Trust of Institutions and will come up on a 50-acre campus at Jakkasandra on Kanakapura Road.
An amendment bill to pave way for the establishment of a separate University of Agricultural Sciences and Horticultural Sciences at Shimoga to conduct study and research in the field of special crops in Malnad regions comprising Hassan, Chikmagalur, Shimoga, Udupi, Dakshina Kannada, Kodagu and Davangere districts will also be taken up.
Bopaiah said the Assembly secretariat has received 202 questions from members.