<p>The State Legislature on Friday passed the Karnataka Land Reforms (Amendment) Bill, 2015, easing rules governing purchase of agricultural land by non-agriculturalists. </p>.<p>The bill seeks to enhance the annual income limit for purchasing agricultural land from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 25 lakh. <br /><br />Revenue Minister V Srinivas Prasad, who piloted the bill, said non-agriculturists who purchase farm land under this Act have to use it for agricultural purposes only. Through this amendment, more people will now be able to buy agricultural land. <br />The bill also proposes to hand over the power to allow such purchases from the assistant commissioner to the deputy commissioner. <br /><br />This, Prasad said, is being done in the wake of a large number of complaints of irregularities. As many as 32,411 cases pertaining to violation of Section 80 of the Act were registered in the last five years.<br /><br />Besides, the government will tighten rules for granting permission to purchase agricultural land for industrial and educational purposes under Section 109 of the Act. Measures will be taken to conduct land audit, he added.<br /><br />Members cutting across party lines, including those from the ruling Congress, strongly opposed the amendments. <br /><br />Senior Congress leader and MLA K R Ramesh Kumar asked the government not to rush through the amendments and allow a thorough public debate before taking any decision. <br /><br />The amendments will have a major impact on the agriculture sector. The government should be careful, he warned.<br /><br />Regularisation limit hiked<br />The State legislature also passed the Karnataka Land Revenue (Amendment) Bill, 2015, which aims to enhance the limit for regularisation of unauthorised dwellings from 2,400 sqft to 4,000 sqft. The provision, however, will be restricted to rural areas.<br /><br />Prasad said this was a long-standing demand of the economically weaker sections living in rural areas.<br /><br />The bill also provides for construction of farm building or house in up to 10 per cent of the total land holding, but not exceeding 10 guntas. Members took objection to the 10-gunta ceiling, stating that more space is required for cow shed and drying yard. <br /><br />The minister then agreed to delete this stipulation from the bill. Members also felt that the amount fixed for regularisation should be kept nominal. <br /><br />To this, Prasad said that the government would not levy any charges on the SC/ST community, pourakarmikas and ex-servicemen.<br /><br />The government will levy Rs 1.40 per sqft for regularisation of constructed houses on 4,000 sqft area, Re 1 per sqft on 2,400 sqft area and 50 paise per sqft on 1,200 sqft area. Deadline for submitting applications seeking regularisation will be extended till December, he added.<br /><br />Also, another provision of the bill seeks to amend the Act to provide for deemed permission to convert agricultural land for setting up solar power generation units in accordance with the Karnataka Solar Policy, 2014-21. </p>
<p>The State Legislature on Friday passed the Karnataka Land Reforms (Amendment) Bill, 2015, easing rules governing purchase of agricultural land by non-agriculturalists. </p>.<p>The bill seeks to enhance the annual income limit for purchasing agricultural land from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 25 lakh. <br /><br />Revenue Minister V Srinivas Prasad, who piloted the bill, said non-agriculturists who purchase farm land under this Act have to use it for agricultural purposes only. Through this amendment, more people will now be able to buy agricultural land. <br />The bill also proposes to hand over the power to allow such purchases from the assistant commissioner to the deputy commissioner. <br /><br />This, Prasad said, is being done in the wake of a large number of complaints of irregularities. As many as 32,411 cases pertaining to violation of Section 80 of the Act were registered in the last five years.<br /><br />Besides, the government will tighten rules for granting permission to purchase agricultural land for industrial and educational purposes under Section 109 of the Act. Measures will be taken to conduct land audit, he added.<br /><br />Members cutting across party lines, including those from the ruling Congress, strongly opposed the amendments. <br /><br />Senior Congress leader and MLA K R Ramesh Kumar asked the government not to rush through the amendments and allow a thorough public debate before taking any decision. <br /><br />The amendments will have a major impact on the agriculture sector. The government should be careful, he warned.<br /><br />Regularisation limit hiked<br />The State legislature also passed the Karnataka Land Revenue (Amendment) Bill, 2015, which aims to enhance the limit for regularisation of unauthorised dwellings from 2,400 sqft to 4,000 sqft. The provision, however, will be restricted to rural areas.<br /><br />Prasad said this was a long-standing demand of the economically weaker sections living in rural areas.<br /><br />The bill also provides for construction of farm building or house in up to 10 per cent of the total land holding, but not exceeding 10 guntas. Members took objection to the 10-gunta ceiling, stating that more space is required for cow shed and drying yard. <br /><br />The minister then agreed to delete this stipulation from the bill. Members also felt that the amount fixed for regularisation should be kept nominal. <br /><br />To this, Prasad said that the government would not levy any charges on the SC/ST community, pourakarmikas and ex-servicemen.<br /><br />The government will levy Rs 1.40 per sqft for regularisation of constructed houses on 4,000 sqft area, Re 1 per sqft on 2,400 sqft area and 50 paise per sqft on 1,200 sqft area. Deadline for submitting applications seeking regularisation will be extended till December, he added.<br /><br />Also, another provision of the bill seeks to amend the Act to provide for deemed permission to convert agricultural land for setting up solar power generation units in accordance with the Karnataka Solar Policy, 2014-21. </p>
