Belagavi: Large and Medium Scale Industries Minister R.V. Deshpande said Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB) has been directed not to acquire land belonging to Scheduled Castes / Scheduled Tribes or fertile and irrigated land for formation of industrial estates across the state.
Replying to Ms Motamma of Congress in the Legislative Council on Friday, he admitted to erratic acquisition of land without working out the demand-supply factor. As a result, thousands of acres acquired by KIADB have remained unutilised due to lack of demand. There has been delay on the part of KIADB in issuing the final notification and payment of compensation to land losers. Due to this, farmers had lost rights over their land and have been unable to take up agricultural activity, he said.
Mr Deshpande said after he became industries minister, around 13,000 acres of land in various districts had been returned to the respective farmers.
