Farmers oppose acquisition of land for Bidadi township

Farmers oppose acquisition of land for Bidadi township

New Indian Express

`What is the point of creating a mini America?'

# Farmers not ready to give up land even for hefty compensation
# They say they were not consulted before finalising the project

Bangalore: The proposed Bidadi Integrated Township, one of the largest in the country to be located 39 km from the city, has run into rough weather even before the notification process has begun.

Farmers from two hoblis — Kanchugaranahalli and Bairamangala — have demanded that the land acquisition process should be stopped immediately as it would deprive them of their livelihood.

"What is the point of creating a mini America here at the cost of the local farmers who know no other way of life?" asked H.T. Lingappa, President of Sri Ranganatha Raitha Hitarakshana Sangha, a forum of farmers.

He told presspersons on Monday that farmers were not willing to give up their land even if the Government paid them hefty compensation. "Let us not speak of commerce, it is a question of our life," said Mr. Lingappa. The Government's "unilateral decision" to acquire land went against the interest of 25,000 farmers in 25 villages, he added.

Although notification was not yet issued for the project, surveyors had already visited the villages. But they had been "politely refused permission" to carry on work by farmers, said Mr. Lingappa.

He showed copies of notices served to Ramanagaram Taluk Panchayat by Bangalore Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (BMRDA) saying that they "should cooperate" in the survey process. But the authorities had not so much as consulted farmers who would be affected, he added. This was "unforgivable" from a government that claimed to be for the poor, he said. The forum has threatened an agitation if the Government did not withdraw the decision.

The BMRDA has identified a strategic area spread over about 10,000 acres of land. Areas in Byramangala, Bannigeri, Hosur, K.G. Gollarapalya, and Kanchugaranahalli Kaval villages of Bidadi hobli will be included in the project. The estimated cost of the township is Rs. 3,500 crore.