Farmers’ co to lease out land to industries

KOLHAPUR: At a time when the central government is being cornered by various sectors over its proposed Land Acquisition Bill, as many as many as 20 farmers from Shirol tehsil have come forward to share their land. These farmers have filed a proposal with the government to convert their land from agriculture to industrial category, so that they can form a company and lease out their lands to the industries.
It is one of the rarest examples where farmers have taken the initiative to offer their own land for industrial purpose. Their land totally admeasuring 43 acres is currently notified for agriculture purpose in the state government’s records.
The urban development department on Thursday published a notice stating that certain ‘gat’ numbers in Nandani village of Shirol tehsil, around 25 km from here, will be notified for industrial use. People can raise objections within 30 days of publication of the notice.
The said company will deal with prospective industries and the land will be leased out accordingly. Every farmer will get his share of the lease amount as per the land contribution for the purpose. Though the idea was conceived by the farmers, local MP Raju Shetti has been majorly supporting the move. Shirol tehsil is part of Shetti’s Hatkanangale Lok Sabha constituency.
Speaking to TOI, Shetti said, “In Magarpatta township in Hadapsar (Pune), all the farmers had jointly floated a company with a huge land bank and leased it out. A similar pattern is being implemented here, wherein the farmers have decided to go for food processing industries and other manufacturing activities. The site is crucial as there are two industrial townships adjacent to it and the part suppliers can benefit from the new industrial zone. I have endorsed the proposal with my letter as such a move protects the right of the farmers to use the land as per their will.”
Prakash Patil, one of the land owners who wants to float the company, said, “Food processing units are in demand, but there is no land for the purpose. We have observed it several times that individual offers were made to the farmers for land purchase. Hence, we decided to form a company where we will have some rights over our land; we will get more returns from it.”
Sources in the town planning department said, “As the farmers are willing to change the notification of the land, all the necessary procedures will be over within a year. Such moves are welcome as there is mutual benefit. Unlike the MIDC, the company does not have to pay the entire amount to the farmers at the first go. Instead, the company can make payments in installments and start earning once it is commenced.”