The Legislative Assembly on Friday passed the Karnataka Land Reforms (Amendment) Bill, 2015, to increase the income limit for non-agricultural sources to purchase farmland from Rs. 2 lakh to Rs. 25 lakh.
The Bill empowers deputy commissioners of districts, instead of assistant commissioners, to grant permission for non-agriculturists to purchase agricultural land under Section 80 of the Act.
In reply to the debate on the Bill, Revenue Minister V. Srinivas Prasad said taking into account inflation, which was nearly 300 per cent in the last two decades, the maximum income limit was fixed at Rs. 25 lakh. Despite opposition from some quarters, it was decided to fix the limit to prevent misuse of farmland, he said.
Mr. Prasad said the last income limit revision was in 1995 when the former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda was the Chief Minister. Mr. Gowda increased the income limit from Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 2 lakh. In 1991, the income limit was increased from Rs. 12,000 to Rs. 50,000, Mr. Prasad said.
K.G. Bopaiah (BJP) opposed the increase in income limit stating that it would defeat the very purpose of the land reforms Act. The BJP and the JD(S) feared that it would only help the real estate lobby and generate demand for farmlands, especially those close to cities and towns.
Vishweshwara Hegde Kageri (BJP) suggested that purchased lands should be utilised for agricultural activities only.
Intervening during the debate, Speaker Kagodu Thimmappa said no land audit had been done on lands acquired by the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board in the past. “We have lost confidence in officials such as tahsildars and village accountants,” he said.
Ramesh Kumar (Congress) demanded monitoring of land granted to industries under Section 109 of the Act.
Mr. Prasad said deputy commissioners have been empowered to grant permission to purchase agriculture land under Section 80 of the Act.
