Agricultural land to be acquired for cement factory, solar plants in Karnataka

The State Cabinet has decided to allow two private companies to acquire 1,256 acres agricultural lands directs from farmers for setting up a cement factory and solar power plants in the State. It will permit Vasavadatta Cement Company, a unit of Kesoram Industries Ltd., situated in Sedam of Kalaburagi, to acquire 655 acres directly from framers for establishing a cement factory in the taluk. Varda Solar Ltd. of Adani Group has been allowed to acquire 601 acres from farmers for establishing solar power plants. Varda Solar will acquire land from farmers directly in Yalburga taluk (44 acres), Aurad taluk (282 acres), and Vijayapura taluk (275 acres) for establishing solar power plants. The industrialists will acquire lands at the market rates, under Section 109 of the Land Reforms Act, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Krishna Byre Gowda told presspersons after the Cabinet meeting on Thursday.