Land purchase to be made easier for industries

Online submission of applications seeking permission on the cards

Permission for purchase of land by industries may just require a visit to the nearby government-to-citizen service centres.

 The Revenue Department has proposed online submission of applications for procurement of land by industries from any of the Atalji Janasnehi Kendra across the State. 

The department is also planning to make the entire process for obtaining permission for purchase of agricultural land for industrial purposes online end-to-end, right from verification of application by the case worker at the taluk office to final clearance and issue of land conversion order by the deputy commissioner.

 The department is also keen that permission to buy land be brought under Sakala, so that the applications get disposed of within a stipulated time. The statutory requirements to usher in the new regime has already been cleared with both houses of the State legislature recently passing the Karnataka Land Reforms and Certain Other Law (Amendment) Bill, 2014 to simplify the procedure for purchasing agricultural land for industrial purposes and its conversion. The bill now awaits the Governor’s assent.

Rules to be amended

According to official sources, the Karnataka Land Reforms Rules, 1974 (38-D) and Karnataka Land Revenue Rules, 1966 will have to be amended. Once the new system is in place, it will cut down the process for according permission to buy land by industries from the present 27 stages to eight stages, they said.

At present, purchase of land by individual or companies for industrial purposes is a cumbersome process as they have to seek permission under Section 109 of Karnataka Land Reforms Act with field reporting by village accountant up to clearance by a high power committee. 

Industries will also have to get the land converted from agricultural to non-agricultural purposes under Section 95 of the Karnataka Land Revenue Act, which takes nearly a year. The amendment to the Karnataka Land Reforms and Certain Other Law provides that once permission under Section 109 is taken, permission under Section 95 is deemed to have been taken.

Now, under the proposed new regime for land purchase, industries will have to identify land get consent from farmers and sign an agreement on the price. They then apply online for permission in a prescribed application form at one of the Atalji Janasnehi Kendras. The online application is forwarded to case worker at the taluk office who will verify the application and supporting documents. The case workers will also check Bhoomi data base for any violations. 

Then, an online request is sent to the revenue inspector for field verification. The revenue inspector’s field report and case worker’s opinion are sent to the shirastedar of the taluk office for his comments before being recommended by tahsildar to the deputy  commissioner. The deputy commissioner peruses the file and issues the conversion order, officials said.