The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : No farmland for SEZ

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jan 02, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

No farmland for SEZ

Special Correspondent

Officials looking at filing cases against violators of land laws

Only wasteland or barren land to be acquired for SEZ
Efforts on to increase food production

BANGALORE: The Government has decided against granting agricultural lands for Special Economic Zone or any industrial projects in the State.

A. Ramaswamy, principal secretary, Department of Agriculture, told presspersons here on Tuesday that the department was firm on its stance that it would not allow acquisition of farmlands for industrial projects. “Our policy is that we will not give an inch of cultivable land for SEZ projects. We have to protect farmers and their lands,” he said.

Asked about large-scale protests by farmers against acquisition of farmlands at Chamalapura in Mysore and Nandagudi on the outskirts of Bangalore, he said the department would initiate action against violators of law.

“We are ready to file cases against those who acquire farmlands. We will even fight the case in the court,” he said.

The H.D. Kumaraswamy Government had decided to acquire lands at Chamalapura for a power plant and a multi-purpose SEZ at Nandagudi.

Other departments could acquire lands only with the permission of the Agriculture Department. Only wastelands or barren lands would be allowed to be acquired for SEZ. Farmers could contact the joint directors of the department at the district-level and request them to take action against those who acquire farmlands, he said.

The State had to increase agricultural production, particularly rice. “We can import wheat but we cannot import paddy since it was grown only in a few countries of Asia,” he said. Efforts were being made to bring more lands under agriculture. The Land Development Board would be revived to bring more lands under farming, he said.

Asked about a farmer committing suicide in Mysore following alleged harassment by a bank, he said the State-Level Banker’s Committee had taken note of the issue.

Supply of seeds

Mr. Ramaswamy said a corpus fund of Rs. 100 crore would be set up in the State to ensure timely supply of fertilizers to farmers. The supply of fertilizers had been erratic in the State for several reasons. The State’s annual requirement of fertilizer was 32 lakh tonnes, he said.

Twelve seed processing units would be established in districts to ensure supply of certified seeds to farmers. The units would be established with the support of Karnataka Seed Development Corporation. As many as 150 farm laboratories would be established or upgraded in the State. The department had taken steps to promote organic farming at the gram panchayat level with the active involvement of farmers and non-governmental organisations, he said.

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