From Our Special Correspondent

Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Jun 11: In a legislative decision that is bound to have far-reaching ramifications pertaining to the agriculture sector, the B S Yediyurappa regime at its State Cabinet meeting on Thursday has decided to amend the Karnataka Land Reforms Act, 1961, seeking to allow non-agriculturists to purchase agricultural lands without any income limits. Briefing reporters after the State Cabinet meeting, Law and Parliamentary Affairs minister J C Madhuswamy and Revenue minister R Ashok said the State Cabinet has decided to repeal sections 63(a), 79 (a), (b) and (c) in the existing Act to enable any non-agriculturalists to buy farmland and remove existing ceiling limits to own farmlands.

The ministers said the State Cabinet has decided to remove the clause of the income limit for non-agricultural sources to purchase farmland.

B S Yediyurappa

The Congress government led by Siddaramaiah had amended the Act in 2015 to increase the income limit for purchase of farmlands for non-agricultural purposes from Rs 2 lac to Rs 25 lac. The income limit was fixed to prevent misuse of farmlands for commercial purposes and thereby deprive the farmers.

Explaining the rationale for the amendments to the existing act, the ministers said the changes would be made during the next session of the State legislature. The amendments to the Land Reforms Act would enable any person to purchase farmlands to start farming activities, they said. Despite the explanations by the state government, the proposed amendments are bound to be opposed by the farmers and even opposition parties.

The State Cabinet also decided to appoint administrative officers for gram panchayats in the state owing to postponing of elections to GPs scheduled between June and August, Madhuswamy said.

The district administration and its staff were busy in handing of COVID-19 cases and deputy commissioners suggested the state election commission postpone elections for a few months.

The State Cabinet decided to upgrade the Government Science College, located on the premises of Central College in Bengaluru, as university and it will be named as Nriputunga University. It has also proposed to rename the Bengaluru Central University as the Bengaluru City University. University vice-chancellor S Japhet has been demanding the renaming of the university as the city university.

The State Cabinet also approved the establishment of Science Gallery in Bengaluru with an estimated cost of Rs 89 crore. It approved upgradation of 1,307 existing health sub-centres and 1694 primary health centres into health and wellness centres. The centres are located in 47 taluks in eight districts of the state.

The minister said the State Cabinet has also decided to withdraw 53 criminal cases registered in various police stations in the state against farmers during protests and people during the procession and immersion of Ganesha idols.