Now Private Parties Can Buy 5 Acres of Farm Lands for Setting up Hotels in 100 Places
From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore
Bangalore, May 13: In a move that is bound to be controversial and provoke both the farmers as well as the Opposition parties to rally against the B S Yeddyurappa-led BJP regime in Karnataka, the Tourism Minister Gali Janardhana Reddy has announced that the State Government has decided to permit private companies to buy upto 5 acres of agricultural lands in 100 selected tourist places across the state for starting hotels.
The all powerful Bellary minister, who virtually controls the levers of the Yeddyurappa regime, described the move as part of the State Government’s initiative to promote tourism at places of historical and religious importance as well as give a boost to eco tourism.
``We have identified 100 tourist places for setting up of hotels in the private sector in various districts of the State,” he said explaining that the move would give a big fillip to the tourism sector and also create employment opportunities without any big investments from the government.
Addressing a news conference, Reddy announced the State Government has decided to amend the Karnataka Land Revenue Act 1964 to enable entrepreneurs to purchase maximum five acres of cultivable land directly from farmers for setting up hotels.
Revealing the arrangements made by the Tourism Department to attract private investments during the Global Investors’ Meet on June 3 and 4, Reddy, who is also in charge of Infrastructure along with Tourism and Civil Aviation, proudly claimed that, ``Karnataka is the only state in the country to allow private investors to purchase agricultural lands from farmers to set up hotels.”
``The State Government will not interfere in the land deals between farmers and buyers,” Reddy said pointing out that the private companies will have to directly negotiate with farmers and offer attractive prices, which could be ``even more than the market prices in the particular areas.’’
The Tourism Department has created a land bank and kept 3,258 acres ready for tourism projects. The department already has 1,003 acres of land while the private land of 2,255 acres would be available for investors, he said.
Some of the places identified for setting up hotels on five acres of farm lands are: Bannerghatta, and Dodda Aladamara (big banyan tree) in Bangalore, Ghati Subramanya and Madhure in Doddaballpur, Nandi Hills in Devanahalli, Shivagange in Nelamangala, Rangasthala and Vidhurashwatha in Gauribidanur, Kaiwara, Murugamallu in Chintamani taluk, Kotilingeshwara in Bangarpet taluk, Chikkathirupathi in Malur, Sangama, Ramadevara Betta, Savanadurga, T G Halli Reservoir, Kanwa reservoir, all in Ramangara district.
Shivanasamurdra in Mandya, Bandipur, Chikkahole dam, M M Hills, Bharachukki, B R Hills, Hogenakkal, Gundal Reservoir in Chamarajangara district, Kabini reservoir, Talakadu, Gommatagiri, Somanathapura in Mysore district, Belur, Halibeedu, Sharavanabelagola, Goruru reservoir in Hassan
district and Balehonnur, Kalasa, Sringeri, and Kemmannagundi in Chikmagalur district have also been chosen.
Gajanur dam, Thirthahalli, Agumbe, Chakra Dam, Chandragutti, Kodachadri Hills, Bhadra project, and Gudavi bird sanctuary in Shimoga district, Someshwara, Pilikula, Gundya and Kukke Subramanya in Dakshina Kannada district, Malpe Beach, Kaup beach, and Kollur in Udupi district have also been identified.
Nagarahole, Madikerei, Harangi Dam, Irpu Falls in Kodagu district, Anegundi, and Tunga Bhadra Dam in Koppal, Kodlu beach, Om beach, Gokarna, Murudeshwara, Unchalli, Magodu, Sathodi,
Dandeli, and Ramangara in Uttara Kannada district, Koodala Sangama, Badami, Aihole, Pattadakal in Bagalkote district, Chitradurga Fort and Vanivilas Sagar in Chitradurga, Shantisagar in Davangere, Gokak Falls, Saundatti, and Kittur in Belgaum district, Hampi in Bellary and Srirangapatna in Mandya district are among the other places.
The minister said concessional loans at the interest rate of 10 per cent would be made available to private parties through Karnataka State Finance Corporation. Such enterprises would also be given VAT exemption for a three-year period.
Comment on this article
shyam, kukke subrahmanya
Sun, Aug 01 2010All just press statements nothing concrete uptonow.I am a interested party to convert my agro land to a tourism project. Govt. or reddy did not identify the lands. They called for interested through newspaper ads. I had shown interest for setting up a project on parternship basis. Files have been developed. But practically no move.
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zacs18, Kudroli
Sat, May 15 2010Reddy bros are expanding their business wing from "Mining" to "Hotel" Industry. Out of 100 hotels, for sure, 80 will be owned indirectly by Reddy Bros. This proposition will ensure subsidized land & capital. What a deal? End of the day its TAX PAYERS money. Yeddy & others will make noise till they get their share of pie. Then its a smooth "cake walk" business launch. Lets wait & see more such "Reddy Bros Investment Scheme" to come. Jai Ho!!
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Lokanath.D, Bantwal/Iran
Fri, May 14 2010It is a correct decision,nothing wrong in it,farmers who unable to cultivate...let them sell in a good rate..it is their choice...we can see many of the farmers are not cultivating their land due to labour problems or some other reasons in southkanara/some other placess,if it is implemented then there is no agenda for opposion parties since it is not a forcible eviction.
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Kateel Ramesh Prabhu, Mangalore/Bengalur
Fri, May 14 2010Though the scheme envisaged sounds good ,most of the identified tourist places does not seem to be ideal for huge capital investment by obtaining loan @ 10 per cent interest.Most of the tourist places have only seasonal influx of visitors and huge investment renders project unviable/uneconomical.I suggest that instead of encouraging these kind investments the Government should give attention to for providing the basic necessities at important tourist centres like Ghati Subramanya,Kateel etc.,I wonder why Kateel ,the most tourist attracted pilgrim centre near Mangalore has not received the ministers attention for develeopment,where there is a great need for providing drinking water and drainage facility to stop environmental polution.Now there is no proper under ground drainage facility in Kateel and river Nandini's water as well as so many wells nearby have rendered useless for domestic use due to heavy polution.This is a serious matter that goverment should give immediate attention .In Gahti Subramanya another very important tourist destination of D.K.Dist, in front of the temple near vehicle parking place,the area has become so dirty due to dumping of plastic wastes and other wastages that area is filled with bad smell always.There is therefore the outlined scheme needs a second look and only viable projects needs to be encouraged.It is equally important that fertile and potential agricultural lands be avoided for the purpose.
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ISMAIL K PERINJE, PERINJE/YANBU-KSA
Thu, May 13 2010It is not forceful eviction or acquisition but an amendment of Land Reforms Act to fecilitate investment in tourism industry.
As said by Gali Reddygaru,I think it is right step towrads better services for the tourist concerned.We,in Karnataka though a touristic place,never utilised our potenciality in tourism as did by Kerala and Goa.More touristic attraction places -more investment-more employment is good for Karnataka.It may be said to be agricultural land in paper but it remains barren land and so that if buyer willing to purchase and seller dicides to sell than only transactions goes through.Therfore there is no intimidation or force in this amendment.
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Rammohan, Puttur D K
Thu, May 13 2010Why restrict the areas only for tourist spots and that too for tourism only in ed areas. Liberalize the acquisitions by amending Land Reforms Act to enable all to acquire agricultural lands as is prevalent in neighboring states
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T.K. Hamza, Kushalnagar
Thu, May 13 2010It is hard to understand why Reddys are so much interested on agricultural land? why he wants to build hotels in agri land only? what is his intention? what kind of tourism he wants to promote? never ever elect this kind of useless minds....
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pramod, udupi/usa
Thu, May 13 2010Not sure why there is the big fuss here among the comments and from this article. The Govt has clearly saild that farmers are free to sell their land to the private parties for setting up hotels in places. It is voluntarily and involves the farmer and the purchaser..so what is the big deal?
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D.Shetty, Mangalore
Thu, May 13 2010After Mineral land now into agricultural land....Guys wake up kick out these politicians. We need Green Land not concrete lands...
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santhosh d costa, capitanio/dublin/ireland
Thu, May 13 2010this ministers destroy our farm land on basis of development i very sure Mr pale mar is behind this proposal already he tried to turn nanthoor highway in to near to his 1 acre land in naguri
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Rajesh Gonsalves, Mangalore / Cairo
Thu, May 13 2010Wonderful. More Patrao families on the road soon. How shamelessly this man is announcing his schemes. After getting a boost from supreme court in mining, he is out to loot the 'green gold' of Karnataka. He is a fool to assume that tourism will improve if more hotels are built. Have a look at the state of Mysore airport, though a tourist centre, no airline is ready to operate. Next year better to rent it to IPL and earn some revenue.
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