To expedite the process of getting land from private owners for government projects, the State Cabinet on Monday gave clearance to a system of directly buying land from owners up to a maximum of 100 acres through deputy commissioners of districts.
Briefing reporters after the Cabinet meeting, Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs T.B. Jayachandra said under the proposed system, only lands of those owners who give consent to part with their properties would be procured at market rates.
“There is a provision under the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, to directly procure land if there is consent from land owners,” the Minister said, when asked if such a system would not amount to violating the spirit of the Act which focuses on rehabilitation and resettlement.
“It will take more than 10 years to get land for public projects if the rehabilitation and resettlement route is taken,” he said. Mr. Jayachandra, however, made it clear that the relaxation of norms would apply only to government projects with a maximum ceiling of 100 acres.
Mining
The Cabinet also decided to amend the Karnataka Stamps and Registration Act to reduce the stamps and registration fee towards the leasing of 15 C-category mines for 50 years. There were no takers for the auctioning of leases of these 15 C-category mines as the stamps and registration fee would touch nearly Rs. 2,800 crore. Hence the Cabinet decided to reduce the above fee, he said. However, the quantum of reduction to be granted to them was yet to be decided, he said. To a query on whether reducing the stamps and registration fee would not amount to loss of revenue for the government, Mr. Jayachandra said, “The government would benefit as it would get Rs. 17,000 crore to Rs. 18,000 crore if these mines are auctioned. Also the industries are in bad need of iron ore.” The Cabinet also gave clearance to a proposal to waive the Rs. 11 crore loan taken by persons with disabilities from the Department of Welfare of Disabled and Senior Citizens.
Under the proposed system, only lands of those owners who give consent to part with their properties will be procured at market ratesT.B. Jayachandra,Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs
