KIADB notified 918.16 acres of land in Bangalore Urban and Rural districts for Aerospace industries in May 2007.

Followed by the government notification, advisory committees headed by deputy commissioners of respective districts were appointed to fix compensation in consultation with farmers. Land Acquisition officers of BMRDA and sub registrar of Revenue Department were also involved in the committee.

Advisory committee of Bangalore Rural district held a meeting with representatives of farmers on August 27.

Farmers demanded that they should be given either Rs 1.5 core in cash or 9,500 sq ft developed area against one acre of land. The meeting did not pass any resolution. Deputy Commissioner D K Rangaswamy who chaired the meeting assured farmers that he will bring farmers’ demand before the State government.

But the committee sent a report to KIADB stating that the committee in its meeting resolved to fix Rs 30 lakh per acre of non-converted land and Rs 31.5 lakh per acre of converted land. KIADB in its meeting on December 5 approved the report forwarded by the committee.

Similarly the committee headed by Bangalore Urban Deputy Commissioner M A Sadiq met farmers. The meeting ended without any resolution being passed.

However, the committee sent a report to KIADB stating it passed a resolution of providing Rs 35 lakh per acre. KIADB accepted the same in its meeting on December 5.

Farmers of both the districts whose land has been notified are furious over reports of the committees and subsequent ratification by KIADB.

D S Gowda, convener of Raita Horata Samiti, Devanahalli taluk, said that farmers will hold peaceful protests against the decision of the committees.

“Protests will continue till the State government agrees to provide compensation as per our demands. Otherwise we will not give away our land and Nandigram like situation will emerge here too. If the government wants, let it build Aerospace Industries on our bodies,” he said.