No scope for additional compensation as demanded by farmers: MB Patil
Replying to a starred question raised by Legislative Council Member Dr Talawar Sabanna, Patil said, 'Rajashree Cements had sought land in Hanghanahalli, Udagi, Huda (B) and Nripatunga Nagar in Sedam taluk. Considering the request, the government, under the Karnataka Land Reforms Act, 1961, granted approval on 27 November 2010 and again on 25 January 2011.
Subsequently, the company entered into direct agreements with farmers for the purchase of land. At that time, the prevailing rate was ₹70,000 per acre, but the company paid ₹3.5 lakh per acre as compensation for 921 acres purchased.'
'At that stage, the affected farmers demanded employment for one member from each family in the proposed factory. Instead of providing jobs, the company paid an additional ₹2.75 lakh per acre. Even after this, some farmers pressed for more compensation. The company then paid all affected farmers an extra ₹1.75 lakh per acre. In total, each acre has been given ₹8 lakh as compensation,' Patil explained.
Since the agreement was solely between the company and the farmers, the provisions of the Karnataka Land Reforms Act, 1961, do not apply in this case. As of March this year, the company has employed 1,345 local residents, accounting for more than 80 per cent of its total workforce, the minister added.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
Apple to open third India store in Bengaluru on September 2
Bengaluru: Apple has announced the opening of its third retail store in India — in Hebbal, north Bengaluru — which will welcome customers from Sept 2. This marks Apple's third official retail location in the country, following Apple BKC in Mumbai and Apple Saket in New Delhi. The launch of Apple Hebbal represents a major step in the tech giant's expansion in India, providing more customers with direct access to its products, services and in-store experiences. With this new location in north Bengaluru, Apple continues to deepen its presence in one of the world's fastest-growing markets. You Can Also Check: Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru | Gold Rates Today in Bengaluru | Silver Rates Today in Bengaluru The barricade at Apple Hebbal has been unveiled, showcasing vibrant artwork inspired by India's national bird, the peacock. At the store, customers can explore the full range of Apple products, discover new features and get support from specialists, creatives and dedicated business teams. The store will also host Today at Apple sessions — free, hands-on events led by Apple Creatives. Designed to inspire and educate, these sessions help customers get started with their devices or deepen their skills in areas such as art, storytelling, productivity, coding, and topics like Apple Intelligence or working smarter on Mac. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like This Could Be the Best Time to Trade Gold in 5 Years IC Markets Learn More Undo Bengaluru is playing a crucial role in Apple's global manufacturing strategy, cementing its position as a key hub for the tech giant. Recently, industries minister MB Patil shared on X that Foxconn, Apple's Taiwanese contract manufacturer, officially started production of iPhone 17 at its new facility in Devanahalli. TOI earlier reported that beginning with June quarter, India is poised to become the primary manufacturing hub for iPhones sold in the US. As Apple restructures its global supply chain in response to reciprocal tariff measures by the US government — particularly targeting imports from China — the company is increasingly turning to India as a key alternative. Apple CEO Tim Cook confirmed the shift during the company's quarterly earnings call. "For the June quarter, we do expect the majority of iPhones sold in US will have India as their country of origin," Cook said. Apple India has also leased around 2.7 lakh sqft of office space in Bengaluru for 10 years, with a starting monthly rent of Rs 6.3 crore, according to data analytics firm Propstack. The iPhone maker is estimated to pay more than Rs 1,000 crore in rent, car park and maintenance charges over 10 years. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
The Hindu
8 hours ago
- The Hindu
Harassment by microfinance firms: Karnataka mulls ₹5 lakh compensation to kin of victims
Stating that the suicides related to harassment from the microfinance companies in Karnataka were showing a declining trend after the legislation came into effect, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday announced that the State government is considering providing ₹5 lakh compensation to the families of those who commit suicide due to harassment. The Chief Minister's statement in the Legislative Council came during the reply to a question from the Janata Dal (Secular) member C.N. Manje Gowda. He said, 'We aim to bring the suicides to zero. We are currently offering a compensation of ₹5 lakh to the families of farmers who commit suicide. On similar lines, we will try to provide compensation to the families of those who commit suicide due to harassment from micro finance companies.' Number of cases Providing statistics on the micro finance related cases and suicides, Mr. Siddarmaiah said that six harassment cases were reported in 2023 when eight persons committed suicide, while 27 cases were reported in 2024 when six persons committed suicide. In 2025, he said that 105 cases were reported and 24 persons had committed suicide. Cases since February Month Cases booked Suicides February 44 10 March 22 6 April 10 2 May 2 0 June 1 1 However, he pointed out, since the Karnataka Micro Loan and Small Loan (Prevention of Coercive Actions) Act, 2025, came into force in February, the cases has been showing a decline. In February, 44 cases and 10 suicides were reported; it has started showing a decline with 22 cases and 6 suicides in March, 10 cases and 2 suicides in April, 2 cases and zero deaths in May, and 1 case and 1 suicide in June.
The Hindu
11 hours ago
- The Hindu
Karnataka ranks ninth in country for groundwater depletion
The groundwater levels in Karnataka are falling steadily, and the State now ranks ninth in the country in terms of water depletion, noted Minor Irrigation Minister N.S. Boseraju, even as the Legislative Council on Thursday passed the Karnataka Groundwater (Regulation and Control of Development and Management) (Amendment) Bill, 2025. The Bill aims to check the year-on-year depletion of groundwater levels and to increase the availability of groundwater. The Bill makes it mandatory to obtain a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for digging borewells in notified areas. It also proposes levying charges for groundwater extraction, along with several other regulatory measures. He noted that the Bill is being brought in line with directions from the Central government, and similar legislation has already been implemented in 15 other States. 'Water is Future' To raise awareness about the importance of water and encourage groundwater recharge, the State government is planning to organise year-long programmes under the banner 'Water is Future' across Karnataka. These programmes will be held through urban and rural local bodies. Volunteers will be selected to serve as free brand ambassadors to promote the campaign. The government has earmarked over ₹5 crore for this initiative, Minor Irrigation Minister N.S. Boseraju informed the Legislative Council The Bill offers exemption from obtaining NOCs for borewells drilled for domestic use, rural drinking water schemes, and those drilled exclusively for drinking water purposes by urban and rural defence establishments, and institutions of the central armed forces. However, large-scale water supply users will be charged appropriately depending on the quantum of groundwater drawn. While industries, mining, infrastructure projects, residential apartments, and housing societies are exempted from obtaining NOCs, the law specifies the daily limits on the amount of groundwater they may extract. During the debate, members, including Ivan D'Souza, D.T. Srinivas and Balkis Banu from the Congress, P.H. Pujar, N. Ravikumar, D.S. Arun, Bharati Shetty, Chidananda Gowda, Gopinath and Hemalatha Nayak from the BJP and Govindaraju, T.A. Saravana and Manjegowda from JD(S), expressed concern over the falling groundwater levels. Members, cutting across parties, urged the government to take steps not only to reduce groundwater usage but also to augment recharge. Members stressed the need to make rainwater harvesting mandatory, saying that if the piped supply is improved, people would not be forced to depend on borewells.
