<p>The state government will promulgate an ordinance enabling ‘automatic’ conversion of agricultural land to non-agricultural use within seven days, a major reform that authorities say will free up the land market.</p>.<p>Under the new system, all that will be needed for an agricultural plot to be converted for non-agricultural use is an affidavit by the landowner.</p>.<p>If the land is located in an area classified as residential or commercial in the master plan, then the conversion order will be electronically issued within seven days.</p>.<p>In places where there is no master plan — a village in a rural area, for example — the conversion order will be issued within 30 days.</p>.<p>Section 95 of the Karnataka Land Revenue Act will be amended for this reform, which Revenue Minister R Ashoka has been pursuing, to kick in. “The ordinance will be promulgated as soon as the Cabinet clears it. The draft is ready,” Ashoka told <em>DH</em>.</p>.<p>Conversion of land, known commonly as DC conversion as it is done by the deputy commissioners, is seen as a corrupt and cumbersome process. “This has been a problem for the last 30-40 years. That’s why so many revenue sites have come up. People get fed up and don’t wait for conversion orders,” Ashoka said.</p>.<p>“If an industrialist or someone wanting to build a home has to wait for 6-8 months for land-use conversion, then the person will lose interest.”</p>.<p>Simplifying the land conversion process based on the master plan was a 2021-22 Budget promise. “All cities in Karnataka have a master plan. Land conversion is less in the rural belt,” Ashoka pointed out.</p>.<p>Two years ago, the government liberalised agricultural landholding by allowing non-agriculturists to buy farmlands. The simplification of land conversion will not lead to a glut in the land market, Ashoka insisted. “Why will a farmer simply convert land? The farmer will do it only if there’s demand.”</p>.<p>Affidavits or self-declaration given by the landowners seeking land-use change will be subsequently checked for violations. “The land in question shouldn’t have any encroachment or be granted to SC/STs. If there’s violation, then the conversion order will get cancelled automatically,” Ashoka said.</p>.<p>At present, applications for land-use change are being submitted online. “The new system deals with reforms in the post-application process,” a senior revenue official said.</p>.<p>Ashoka said revenue inspectors, village accountants and tahsildars are opposing the land conversion reform “because they’ll lose out”.</p>
<p>The state government will promulgate an ordinance enabling ‘automatic’ conversion of agricultural land to non-agricultural use within seven days, a major reform that authorities say will free up the land market.</p>.<p>Under the new system, all that will be needed for an agricultural plot to be converted for non-agricultural use is an affidavit by the landowner.</p>.<p>If the land is located in an area classified as residential or commercial in the master plan, then the conversion order will be electronically issued within seven days.</p>.<p>In places where there is no master plan — a village in a rural area, for example — the conversion order will be issued within 30 days.</p>.<p>Section 95 of the Karnataka Land Revenue Act will be amended for this reform, which Revenue Minister R Ashoka has been pursuing, to kick in. “The ordinance will be promulgated as soon as the Cabinet clears it. The draft is ready,” Ashoka told <em>DH</em>.</p>.<p>Conversion of land, known commonly as DC conversion as it is done by the deputy commissioners, is seen as a corrupt and cumbersome process. “This has been a problem for the last 30-40 years. That’s why so many revenue sites have come up. People get fed up and don’t wait for conversion orders,” Ashoka said.</p>.<p>“If an industrialist or someone wanting to build a home has to wait for 6-8 months for land-use conversion, then the person will lose interest.”</p>.<p>Simplifying the land conversion process based on the master plan was a 2021-22 Budget promise. “All cities in Karnataka have a master plan. Land conversion is less in the rural belt,” Ashoka pointed out.</p>.<p>Two years ago, the government liberalised agricultural landholding by allowing non-agriculturists to buy farmlands. The simplification of land conversion will not lead to a glut in the land market, Ashoka insisted. “Why will a farmer simply convert land? The farmer will do it only if there’s demand.”</p>.<p>Affidavits or self-declaration given by the landowners seeking land-use change will be subsequently checked for violations. “The land in question shouldn’t have any encroachment or be granted to SC/STs. If there’s violation, then the conversion order will get cancelled automatically,” Ashoka said.</p>.<p>At present, applications for land-use change are being submitted online. “The new system deals with reforms in the post-application process,” a senior revenue official said.</p>.<p>Ashoka said revenue inspectors, village accountants and tahsildars are opposing the land conversion reform “because they’ll lose out”.</p>
