Technology park land notified

Technology park land notified

Sharath S. Srivatsa

Farmers losing land receive notices

The project may displace nearly 500 families

Farmers of three villages have sought higher compensation

BANGALORE: The final notification for the acquisition of over 850 acres of land, close to the Bengaluru International Airport, for the development of hardware technology park has been issued with farmers who are likely to lose their land receiving notices.

The Department of Industries and Commerce issued the final notification on April 28 for the project that will be taken by the Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB).

Following the notification, notices have been issued to land owners.
Three villages

The hardware park has been proposed on 853.08 acres of land in Bagalur, Hoovinayakanahalli and Mahadeva Kodigehalli villages in Jala hobli of Bangalore North taluk, Bangalore Urban district.

The project, after its notification on December 26, 2006, faced opposition from farmers who obstructed survey work by the officials.
Aerospace cluster

The final notification for the hardware park has come after the final notification for the special economic zone for the aerospace cluster that is also coming up near the new international airport, and farmers of both the areas have opposed the projects. The KIADB has, in its preliminary notification, notified 918 acres of land in these three villages.

Convenor of the Raitha Horata Samithi D.S. Gowda told The Hindu that most land owners have received notices, and that the project is likely to displace nearly 500 families of small and marginal farmers.

“The compensation for the land is expected to be fixed by the consultative committee shortly,” he added.
Higher relief

While the consultative committee has fixed Rs. 55 lakh for an acre of land in Bangalore Rural district and Rs. 57 lakh for an acre of land in Bangalore Urban district as compensation for the aerospace cluster special economic zone, farmers of Bagalur, Hoovinayakanahalli and Mahadeva Kodigehalli have demanded more.
Market price

“The market rate for each acre in the area is around Rs. 1.5 crore, and farmers are expecting a good compensation package for the land that they will lose to the hardware technology park. Farmers will protest if compensation is not good enough,” Mr. Gowda said.

At present, KIADB offers compensation in cash or return of 8,500 sq ft of developed land for every acre of land that the farmer loses.

Mr. Gowda said that the return of developed land should be 9,600 sq ft per acre, which is being followed by the Bangalore Development Authority while acquiring land for the Nadaprabhu Kempe Gowda Layout.

“The BDA is giving 9,600 sq ft of developed land and the KIADB should also follow suit. There should be uniformity,” he added.