Bidadi, another Singur in the making?

Bidadi, another Singur in the making?
Deccan Herald

Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy’s assurance to investors notwithstanding, the Bidadi Township project seems headed for trouble over land acquisitions.

Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy’s assurance to investors notwithstanding, the Bidadi Township project seems headed for trouble over land acquisitions.

Farmers under the banner of Sri Ranganatha Raithara Hritharakshana Sangha have vowed to resist all efforts by the government to acquire farmlands and questioned the very need for the township itself.

Farmers even allege that the acquisition process is selective. About 100 acres belonging to Mr Kumaraswamy himself is being ‘protected’ while vast tracts adjacent to it are acquired, they say.


At a press meet on Monday, Sangha representatives noted that the project would affect the livelihood of farmers across some 27 villages. They took particular objection to the proposed acquisition of 10,000 acres of land in Byramangala and Kanchugaranahalli gram panchayats.

They noted that they had ‘sent back’ government-deputed surveyors recently and “we’d do the same in future too”.

The Bidadi Township project is the first among the five townships planned by the Bangalore Metropolitan Region Development Authority, for which a global tender process was initiated recently.

CM’s ‘interests’

Sangha secretary and taluk panchayat member H C Rajanna pointed out that “these areas are traditional belts of coconut, mango, sugarcane, other commercial crops and vegetables” and that the township concept put the lives of about 25,000 farmers at stake. “What will happen to these farmers and their families if their livelihood is taken away?” he asked.

“In Ramanagaram (the constituency of Mr Kumaraswamy), much is expected of the CM in terms of protecting farmers and their rights,” he said while expressing the fear that the township project will benefit only the rich and not the poor farmers.

The Sangha has threatened to an agitation, rallies and road blockades included, in Ramanagaram and Bangalore if the government doesn’t take on board its concerns.