Karnataka's new land acquisition policy good for all

The state government is giving final touches to a new policy on land acquisition to make the acquisition a smooth affair for both farmers and industries.

The new draft policy would amend the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB) Act, 1966, for smoothening the process of land acquisition and payment of compensation.

Minister for medium and large industries, Murugesh Nirani, said that the Bill would be an amendment to the present  KIADB Act, 1966. The draft policy would be placed for discussion in the next session of the state legislature. Industrial associations and farmers would be given an opportunity to express their views on the draft policy before it is adopted by the government, Nirani assured.

The draft policy has been prepared based on the National Land Acquisition and Rehabilitation and Resettlement Bill, which was approved by the Union cabinet. The proposed law of the Centre seeks to replace the 117-year-old Land Acquisition Bill, 1894, and for the first time integrates land acquisition, relief, and rehabilitation package. 

Nirani said that efforts are being made to attract an investment of `6 lakh crore during the next year’s global investors’ meet. The KIADB has already identified 1.19 lakh hectares, of which preliminary notification has been issued for 86,000 hectares.