BENGALURU: The state government is considering increasing the income ceiling for non-agricultural families who want to buy farmlands from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 5 lakh per annum. There is also a proposal to ban agriculturists whose annual income exceeds Rs 25 lakh from buying more land.
Revenue Minister V Srinivas Prasad told Express on Monday that these proposals are part of the Comprehensive Land Policy which is expected to be tabled in the Winter Session in Belagavi, starting December 9.
If approved, this will be the first time an upper limit is enforced for agriculturists. Currently, only non-agricultural buyers have been imposed with an income ceiling.
Prasad said the objective is to prevent monopoly and misuse of land by the rich. “Presently, anyone with pahani (land record) in their father’s name can buy land irrespective of whether or not he or she is a farmer.
This provision has been found to be misused on many instances,” he said.
The government is also considering doing away with granting lands to various social, religious and educational institutions, particularly in and around Bengaluru. These grants have been greatly misused and the government will take back the lands which are being used for purposes other than the ones intended, the minister said.