New Delhi, Dec 6 (KNN) The Karnataka Cabinet has approved further simplification of procedures related to land conversion of farmland for industrial purposes to help industries to grow.

Now, a single-window clearance scheme would be established for conversion of land for industries.

Briefing reporters after the Cabinet meeting, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Krishna Byre Gowda said “As per the new simplified procedure, industries can now apply online via single window mechanism through the Revenue Department.”

Under the new system, Revenue Department, the authorities concerned are to grant permission for land conversion within a month after receiving application.

 If they do not give permission within month, it would be deemed as granted unless the authorities specify the exact reason for denying permission, the Minister said.

“There is a need to make slight modification to the Section 95/2 of Karnataka Land Revenue Act 1964 to simply procedures for land use pattern,” Gowda added.

Observing that purchase of land has become a challenge for industries owing to complex procedures involved in conversion of land use pattern of farmland for industrial purposes, Cabinet decided to make the process more simplified and reduce the time frame required for conversion to one month.

The present cumbersome system had paved the way for the role of middlemen, resulting in harassment to farmers and inordinate delay of more than a year for industries, he said.