Bengaluru: A new land policy has been approved by the State Cabinet as proposed by the Centre wherein, henceforth, all government lands being leased to religious institutions will be given at a minimum of 50 per cent of the guidance value.

Law Minister T?B?Jayachandra speaking to media after the Cabinet meeting on Saturday, said the government had authorised the land allocation to religious institutions at a minimum of 50 per cent of the guidance value for organisations which are declared under general and at 25 per cent the guidance value for organisations which are declared under SC/ST category.

“There is no question of giving land for free to any institution. While there are provisions under extraordinary circumstances for the Cabinet to approve land allotment for free, we will expect at least a token sum from organisations for the land which will be given to them,” said Jayachandra.

In case of educational institutions, SC/ST organisations and individuals will be given government land at 50 per cent of the guidance value and for others at 50 per cent the market value. For industrial purposes, SC/ST lessees will be given land at 10 per cent guidance value and for others at 10 per cent of the market value.

The Cabinet also approved the final notification for the new central government enacted land acquisition policy, wherein the State will be giving four times the land value to farmers who are parting with their property for infrastructure projects.

“With this, Karnataka will become the first State to implement the new land acquisition policy approved by the previous UPA?regime,” said Jayachandra.