CM Yediyurappa defends changes to land reforms law, says industries own just 2% of farmland

BENGALURU: Chief minister BS Yediyurappa on Friday said amendments to the Land Reforms Act would no way harm the interest of farmers, dismissing fears that industries will take over large swathes of farm land.

Just about 2% of farmland has been used for industrial purposes, the chief minister told reporters. If anyone bought a piece of irrigated land, it can be used only for agriculture purposes, and cannot be alienated for any other use.

The chief minister said farmers are being misled about the government's amendments to land reforms law, and he will meet farmer groups and convince them about the intentions of the government behind these amendments.


The government had, in July, notified changes to the Land Reforms Act, 1961, by way of an Ordinance thus getting rid of restrictions on buying and selling agricultural plots by non-agriculturists.

Farmer organisations launched an agitation on Friday urging the government to drop the changes to the Land Reforms and Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) Acts.