Land owners demand higher rate

Land owners demand higher rate
Deccan Herald

Controversy doesn’t seem to leave Arkavathy Layout alone. If it were land-related hiccups before, now it is the money.....

Controversy doesn’t seem to leave Arkavathy Layout alone. If it were land-related hiccups before, now it is the money. Agriculturists, who had earlier agreed to sell their land to the Bangalore Development Authority at a rate of Rs 14 lakh per acre, are now demanding a revision of the compensation price to Rs 40 lakh per acre. Their demands come following the Revenue Department’s Order, fixing the land value at Rs 40 lakh per acre, in October this year. Nearly 100 farmers, most of them from Jakkur village, staged a protest near Jakkur Circle on Saturday afternoon to press for their demands. A JCB vehicle and a junior engineer’s jeep were stopped by the protesters, who threatened they will not allow the work to progress till the Government agrees to their requirements.

Speaking to Deccan Herald, Nagaraju, who owns two acres of land at Arkavathy, insisted his demands were reasonable. Nagaraju, a one-time farmer said he was reduced to being a coolie in construction sites around Jakkur, due to the litigation over Arkavathy land.

“For the last six months, I have not been able to cultivate crops, nor have I been able to sell the land. Now I am forced to work as a labourer to earn my livelihood. The Rs 14 lakh compensation will not even afford me a BDA site in the area,” he complained.

Meanwhile, Appanna, owner of one acre of land, said his life has been shattered since he heard BDA’s decision of creating Arkavathy Layout in the same area.

“There has been no work in this area for the last few months, and I had to sell my wife’s gold ornaments to feed my huge family. Why should we not make BDA accountable for our plight?” he asked.

Following the protest, BDA officials and Yelahanka District Commissioner agreed to meet the farmers for a discussion on the issue on Monday morning. The BDA also agreed to halt layout development work till then.