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.