Tech. park: meeting on Thursday to fix compensation for land-losers

Tech. park: meeting on Thursday to fix compensation for land-losers

Sharath S. Srivatsa

The meeting on July 21 could not arrive at a decision on the issue

869.09 acres to be acquired in three villages for the hardware technology park

Survey has shown that land prices around BIA are as high as Rs. 3,500 per sq ft.

BANGALORE: Even as farmers who are set to lose their land for the hardware technology park near Bengaluru International Airport are crying foul over the acquisition process, the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB) has set the process for fixing compensation.

The board has convened a meeting on September 25 to decide on the quantum of compensation to be given to the land-losers.

Farmers in Bagalur, Hoovinayakanahalli and Mahadevakodigehalli villages in Jala hobli of Bangalore North taluk whose lands have been notified for acquisition have started receiving notices from the board, and the meeting is to be presided over by the Bangalore Urban district Deputy Commissioner.

The Government has already issued the final notification for acquiring 869.09 acres in these villages to set up the hardware technology park.
Higher compensation

Affected villagers told The Hindu that the meeting on September 25 is the second meeting taking place, as an earlier meeting (July 21) could not arrive at the quantum of compensation. Some lands have been dropped randomly from the acquisition process while other property that could have been exempted for genuine reasons, are set for the acquisition process and pleas to the board have gone in vain, according to farmers.

M.T. Raja Reddy, who is set to lose his land, said: “Officials have told us informally that we get around 10 per cent more than what had been fixed for farmers who lost their land for aerospace spare parts cluster close to the airport.”

The Government fixed Rs. 57 lakh per acre in Bangalore Urban district and Rs. 55 lakh per acre in Bangalore Rural district as compensation for land losers.

He said that even the Jones Lang LaSalle Meghraj (JLLM) property consultants that undertook market survey for the Devanahalli Business Park, promoted by Karnataka State Industrial Investment and Development Corporation (KSIIDC) said that the real estate prices around the BIA were as high as Rs. 3,500 per sq ft.

“The Government fixed Rs. 3 crore for an acre of land to be sold from among the excess land of the airport project. The market price for an acre is around the same, and same parameters have to be used for fixing the compensation amount. Despite these, if the Government offers less than the market value, farmers will be at loss,” he added.

Quoting the national policy on resettlement and rehabilitation for project affected families, he said: “According to the policy, families should be rehabilitated fully before settling the final award. However, it is not done in our case.”