Government for sops to set up hotels, resorts at tourist spots

 The Karnataka Land Revenue Act, 1964 prohibits direct purchase or use of agricultural land for non-agricultural purposes. In the run-up to the Global Investors’ Meet - 2010 scheduled to be held in Bangalore on June 3 and  4, the State government has decided to provide exemption from this particular clause to entrepreneurs ready to establish hotels and resorts at locations identified by the Tourism Department.

Also, the entrepreneurs can avail themselves loans from Karnataka State Finance Corporation (KSFC) at 10 per cent interest. Besides, the entrepreneurs will be provided VAT exemption for a period of three years. These details were disclosed by Tourism Minister Janardhana Reddy at a press conference in Bangalore.

“The entrepreneurs can directly negotiate with the farmers and purchase agricultural land. The Government is willing to provide all possible help and assistance,” K Jothiramalingam, principal secretary, Tourism Department said.

The locations identified by the Tourism Department include places of pilgrimage interest and places of scenic beauty and other tourist attractions.

Some of the locations include Big Banyan Tree (Bangalore urban), Nandi Hills, Shivagange (Bangalore Rural), Rangasthala, Kaivara (Chikkaballapur), Kotilingeshwara, Chikkatirupathi (Kolar), Savanadurga (Ramanagar), Shivanasamudra (Mandya), Bandipura (Chamarajnagar), Talakad, Somanathapur (Mysore), Belur, Halebeed (Hassan), Agumbe, Tirthahalli (Shimoga), Someshwara, Gundya (Dakshina Kannada), Malpe beach (Udupi), Nagarahole (Kodagu), Om beach, Gokarna (Uttara Kannada), Badami (Bagalkot), Vanivilas Sagar (Chitradurga) and Kittur (Belgaum).

Replying to queries, Reddy said the Government will make concerted efforts to provide power and water supply facilities at the locations.