MP sold govt land purchased for setting up plant: Kumaraswamy

Bangalore, Feb 20 (PTI): JD(S) Floor Leader H D Kumaraswamy today alleged in the legislative Assembly that industrialist and MP Rajeev Chandrashekhar had sold government land purchased for setting up a plant at Dabaspet in Bangalore Rural district.

"One Rajeev Chandrashekhar, the then BPL company owner, had acquired land through Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board to set up a plant at Dabaspet, but later sold it to private people without fulfilling the purpose for which it was purchased," he said during the debate on budget.

Kumaraswamy said Chandrashekhar had bought 175 acres at the rate of Rs one lakh per acre, but sold it for Rs 1.30 crore per acre.

Demanding a thorough investigation into the matter, he said corporate groups were acquiring farmers' land through government agencies in the name of investments and indulging in real estate business.

"Who has given them the power to sell government land to private people?" he said. Government should shut agencies like KIADB (Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board) which is helping corporates to "grab" farmers land through them. "KIADB should be shut," he said.

He suggested that government give power to farmers to lease their land directly to corporates to establish plants or factories. "It should also fix the amount for the land leased out to them," Kumaraswamy added. Chandrashekhar was not immediately available for comments.