From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Jul 31: The income limit for buying agricultural land has been raised from Rs 2 lac to Rs 25 lac in the State under the Karnataka Land Reforms (Amendment) Bill, 2015, which was passed by the Karnataka Legislative Assembly on Friday.

The amendment bill also vests the powers for granting permission for buying agricultural lands to non-agriculturists in the Deputy Commissioners instead of the Assistant Commissioners as at present under Section 80 of the Land Reforms Act.

The Karnataka Revenue Minister V Srinivas Prasad, who replied to the debate on the Amendment Bill, said the last income limit revision took place in 1995 when former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda was the Chief Minister of the State.

He said Gowda had increased the income limit from Rs 50,000 to Rs 2 lac.

In 1991, the income limit was increased from Rs 12,000 to Rs 50,000, Prasad said.

The minister said taking into account inflation at nearly 300 per cent in the last two decades, the maximum income limit was fixed at Rs 25 lac.

Despite opposition from some quarters, it was decided to fix the limit to prevent misuse of farm land, he explained.

BJP leader K G Bopaiah opposed increase in the income limit stating that it would defeat very purpose of Land Reforms Act.

BJP and JD(S) members feared that increase in the income limit would help the real estate lobby and generate demand for farm lands, especially those close to cities and towns.

Visvesvara Hegde Kageri (BJP) suggested that purchased lands should be utilised for agriculture activities only.

Intervening during the debate, Assembly Speaker KagoduThimmappa 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 the officials such as tahsildars and village accountants," he said.

K R Ramesh Kumar (Congress) demanded strict monitoring of land granted to industries under section 109 of the Act to prevent misuse.