Bengaluru, Jul 14: The Karnataka government on Tuesday made changes to the Land Reforms Act 1961 through an ordinance to allow non-agriculturists to buy and own farmland for farming.
“The Land Reforms Act has been amended through an ordinance and notified after Governor Vajubhai R Vala gave his assent to it on Monday night,” a Revenue Department official told media persons.
It now permits non-farmers to buy farmland and grow food crops. But they can’t use it for other activities.
“Sections 79 A, B and C of the Act have been repealed, paving way for bona fide citizens to invest in farmland and take to farming as a hobby, passion or additional occupation, which is rewarding,” the official said.
The amended Act will enable the state to attract investment in the farm sector and boost food output. The farm sector’s contribution to the state’s gross domestic product (GDP) has been less than the manufacturing and services sectors over the last two decades.
Criticism by farmers, the Congress and the JD(S) since the cabinet approved changes on June 11 forced the state government to retain section 80 of the Act, with an amendment, to prevent sale of dam water irrigated farmland.
“The ordinance has also added a new section (80A), which says relaxations under the Act will not apply to land given to farmers under the Karnataka SC and ST (Scheduled Caste and Tribe) Act 1978,” the official said.
The changes permit mortgage of farmland only to the state-run institutions, firms and cooperative societies specified in the Act. The ordinance also makes legal cases pending in courts against the sections amended redundant as the new Act addresses the concerns raised in them.
“Besides generating substantial revenue for the state government, the Act will now allow farmers who find the occupation non-remunerative and risky due to droughts/floods and labour shortage to sell their surplus land to urban buyers,” the official said.
Ruling BJP Rajya Sabha member KC Ramamurthy from Bengaluru said the amended Act would allow any citizen to buy farmland.
“Though hundreds of people petitioned successive governments for the past 45 years to abolish the ‘draconian’ sections, they were ignored. I compliment Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa and Revenue Minister R Ashoka for the decision to allow everyone to buy farmland irrespective of their occupation or profession,” Ramamurthy told media persons.
The comment posted from the Facebook account of Shankar Prasad read:?“Sattavarella Christaralla, Namagenu Bidi” (All those who died are Christians, why should we bother?).
Comments
now innocent children are also not spared by hindutva
These kids are like clan flowers not seen the world. Very innocent.
How a person can have hatred OR enmity with such innocent kids.
This guy does not represent all Hindus, this is his own corrupt ideology. However his fellow Hindus have responsibility to correct him, to change him by hook OR Crook. One guy spoils the name of entire community is not acceptable in the civil society.
We are with the saddened parents and friends of these kids.
Uneducated goons and their leaders.....expected......when this guy dies please notify in media so the whole world can comment....Sattadu ondu naai alla ....municipality garbagige haaki....
shame on him no matter what he is or which religion he belongs to, he is not worthy of being human.. if he has no mercy for humanity.. put those aside, we have more people from different community who prayed for all those blessed souls.. today i attended juma in one of masjid.. and there was dua after prayer including these children's n all those who passed away in such tragedy. #beahumanfirst #humanityismypriority
RSS and Bajrangi has become more dangerous for human. They started to think like animals.
After worshiping stone for many years their heart has became stones permanently.
WHAT one can expect from this inhumans, cruel communal minds,even animals have mercy to each others and they express it some forms, but these so called chad.....is are now proved to be worse than that.. may the almighty creator protect the people of our nation from such ANTI HUMANS..
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