Karnataka declares 1,777 acres near Devanahalli a ‘permanent special agricultural zone’
Bengaluru (PTI): The Karnataka government has declared 1,777 acres across 13 villages in Channarayapatna hobli of Devanahalli taluk as a 'permanent special agricultural zone', officials said on Tuesday.
Clarifying that the move does not curb landowners’ rights, S Selvakumar, Principal Secretary in the Department of Industries, said farmers continue to have full freedom to sell their land without any restrictions.
He urged farmers not to be misled by "rumours or false narratives", following reports suggesting that land sale rights had been curtailed.
"Farmers in these villages expressed their wish to continue agriculture. The government responded positively and honoured that commitment. Any claim that this decision harms farmers is untrue," Selvakumar said in a statement.
He said the intention behind the notification was to prevent real estate misuse of agricultural land and stop developers from exploiting farmers. "We have not taken away farmers’ freedom or their right to sell land," he added.
Originally, the land near Devanahalli had been earmarked for an aerospace park. However, the government withdrew the acquisition plan after farmers objected, and has now reserved the area exclusively for agriculture.
Farmers willing to sell their land to the government may do so voluntarily and will be compensated based on the Land Price Determination Committee’s assessment. "There is no requirement to sell only to the government," Selvakumar said.
According to a statement, a meeting chaired earlier by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had decided to denotify the land and retain it for agricultural activity.
The new designation as a 'permanent special agricultural zone' extends additional benefits to farmers.
The government has assured that agricultural infrastructure will be strengthened in the region. The lands were already classified under the green zone category.
"The objective is to ensure agricultural growth alongside industrial development. By declaring the area a permanent special agricultural zone, the government hopes to attract greater investment into agriculture," the statement said.
The benefits proposed include access to high-yield seeds, cold storage, organic farming support, modern technologies such as hydroponics, improved soil and water management, direct market access, e-trading platforms, and better price realisation.
Farmers will also be eligible for special tax exemptions for farms and agri-startups, faster approvals for agri-business projects, warehouse development, export opportunities, and expanded local employment, the government said.
Plans are also in place to provide modern agricultural training, set up laboratories and quality-testing facilities, establish food-processing units, facilitate agricultural credit, and support research and partnerships.
Similar special agricultural zones already exist in Tamil Nadu, Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand and Maharashtra, as well as in other countries, the statement added.
A committee will soon be constituted to study best practices in those regions, to extend comparable benefits to farmers in Karnataka, it said.
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Experience comes when you play bigger teams in bilateral series: Rashid Khan
Chennai (PTI): Afghanistan skipper Rashid Khan called for more bilateral series against stronger cricketing nations after his team signed off from the T20 World Cup on a high, defeating Canada in their final group match here on Thursday.
Afghanistan played some exhilarating cricket, going down to South Africa in a gripping second Super Over after the scores were tied, a humdinger that provided one of the early thrills of the World Cup.
However, the spin-bowling stalwart said Afghanistan could make significant strides if they get regular opportunities to compete against stronger cricketing nations.
"Couple of areas to improve, with the batting, the middle order got a bit stuck against the big teams, and then with the bowling the death overs. That comes when you play the bigger teams in bilateral series," said Rashid after his team defeat Canada by 82 runs, with him returning excellent figures of 2 for 19.
The stalwart said the side had arrived well prepared for the tournament and produced some breathtaking cricket, but admitted the narrow defeat to South Africa proved costly and remained a painful setback.
"We were well-prepared (for the tournament), we played some unbelievable cricket. The game against South Africa, that really hurt everyone. We had to win one of those (first two) games and see how the tournament unfolded. We'll take some positive things from this World Cup and look forward," he said.
With head coach Jonathan Trott set to part ways with the team, Rashid described the departure as an "emotional" moment for the side.
"I think we had some wonderful times with him. Where we are now, he played a main role. It's emotional to see him leave us, but that's how life is. We wish him all the best and somewhere down the line we see him again."
Ibrahim Zadran, who was named Player of the Match for his unbeaten 95 off 56 balls, said it was satisfying to finally register a substantial score after two below-par outings.
"I enjoyed it, didn't play better cricket in first two innings, which I expect. Wanted to back my skills, really enjoyed it. Pressure was there, it's there all the time. I want to put myself in pressure situations and enjoy it," said Zadran.
"Wanted to play positive cricket, rotate strike and punish bad ball, create partnerships and this is what I have done."
