Bangalore: Land developers and industries in the state can heave a sigh relief: agricultural lands can now be easily converted for non-agricultural purposes. The order came into effect on Wednesday.

With this, registration of revenue properties is expected to open. However, the government has to issue a separate order in this regard.

The revenue department has withdrawn the July 2005 order issued by Congress- JD(S) government that imposed severe restrictions on conversion of agricultural land into nonagricultural purposes, making it almost impossible for the farmer to sell or for an industrialist to buy agricultural land for different purposes.

Besides, the Yeddyurappa government has restored the June 1999 guidelines, which simplify and maintain uniformity in granting permission to use agricultural land to nonagricultural purpose, allowing a farmer and an industrialist to have a smooth trade.

The revenue had dipped with the losses running into several crore rupees due to non-conversion of agriculture lands and also due to ban on registering revenue properties

Town-planning authorities must okay land conversion

Bangalore: Land developers and industrialists who welcome the order allowing farmland to be converted for non-agricultural use, don’t celebrate just yet. For, the order comes with a rider.

The authority concerned, before issuing land-conversion certificate, should get permission from BDA and BMRDA if the land is converted for non-agricultural purpose around Bangalore city, while it is town-planning authorities for rest of the state.

The Congress-JD(S) coalition government felt that the 1999 guidelines were directionless which allowed the private land developers to develop business and residential layouts without any infrastructure and with improper planning structure. A government order issued then said: “People are suffering because they bought such plots in residential layouts. Due to this government is forced to spend hundreds of crore rupees on providing infrastructure. Therefore this government will restrict conversion of agricultural lands to nonagricultural purposes.’’

In addition to simplifying procedures for the conversion, the present government has directed the sanctioning authority to process granting conversion within 45 days. Failing to adhere to the schedule will invite disciplinary action.

“This move is to have a free trade. There are many farmers who voluntarily want to sell their agricultural land. Similarly there are many land developers and industrialists ready to buy agricultural land for non-agricultural utility,’’ sources said. “The restrictions were so tough that the 2005 order asked the applicants seeking conversion of land to produce 12 sets to tahsildars, while the present one simply asks them to produce in duplicate,’’ sources added.

Even the revenue department is unable to estimate the quantum of land desired by the farmers’ to sell their agricultural land around Bangalore. With this, the government expects zoom in revenue.