The Thimmarajanahalli Farmers Land Protection Committee near Tumkur City has strongly criticised the Government for its proposal to take over the farmers’ lands for industrial purpose.
Speaking to media persons at a press meet held here on Thursday, Committee Co-ordinator and cine star Ashok and Committee General Secretary C N Ekeshwar expressed that if the farmers’ lands are snatched away from them, a strong agitation will be held in protest against the incident.
The Government, under the Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board, had tried to take away the lands belonging to the farmers in several villages of Kora and Bellave hoblis, by throwing all the rules and regulations to the wind, without seeking their permission. Thus it was trying to play with the poor farmers.
The farmers residing in these villages depended completely on agriculture and survived on small farm holdings. And these lands had come to them, traditionally from their ancestors. If these lands were taken away from them, they would be in a very difficult position, the office-bearers said.
Bonded labourers
The farmers expressed that they were living in fear as to when their lands would be snatched away from them and huge factories would be erected on these lands and they would be made to work as bonded labourers in these factories. With the starting of a factory, the environment will be polluted, water will be contaminated, and the farmers will be forced to work as securitymen, coolies, peons and sweepers, they added.
A land acquisition notice of 1,567 acres of land in the following villages - Thimmarajanahalli, Linganahalli Gate, Giriyanahalli, Yaladodalu, Thippedasarahalli, Kanchenahalli, Sangenahalli, Bahujanahalli, Kodihalli, Batsandra, Kempanadodderi, K Gollarahatti, Vasantanarasapura villages of Kora and Bellave hoblis, has been issued. In the forthcoming days, the Government would be acquiring another 2,000 acres of land.
The Government would be acquiring lands by paying a very meagre sum of compensation to the farmers and would be selling them to the investors at a higher price, the farmers said.
Though the farmers are assured of employment opportunities in the factories,  the Government should realise that the farmers are computer illiterates. Thus, they are automatically forced to take up services in the lower cadre.
Not for money
“Though compensations are promised to us, we cannot part away with our lands just for the sake of money. The lands are like mother for us, whom we cannot part away with. We have decided to oppose the move of the Government which is bent upon imposing industrial development at the cost of our living,” Mr Ekeshwar added.
In order to make the demands of the farmers clear, the Committee had decided to stage a dharna in front of the deputy commissioner’s office on December 17. All the members will hold a hunger strike on the occasion.
Farmers belonging to Kora and Bellave hoblis, who were present at the press meet expressed that, most of the farmers in these hoblis had small holdings. And most of the farmers belonged to the scheduled caste. They cultivated ragi, horsegram, tur, etc in the fields, apart from arecanut, coconut, mangoes, tamarind and teakwood.
Already most of the farmers had given in writing to the Karnataka Area Development Board that they would not part with their lands. Inspite of all this, the Government had issued final notices for land acquisition.
This was highly condemnable, hence, they had decided to conduct a padayatra from Sira Gate to the DC office on December 17 and hold a hunger strike, in protest, they added.