Placing their demands for rehabilitation package, farmers of Chikkaballapur taluk said they would not accept monetary releif from the government for their lands.

Pressing on “land for land”, the farmers poured out their woes infront of the Special Land Acquisition officer A Doddappa saying that their sheeps up for sale in the market place got better value than their lands acquired by the government. They emphasised on need for better compensation package than the prices that have been offered currently by the government.

Poor rates

The farmers expressed their anguish about the poor rates offered by the government stating lands in the area would fetch anyhwere around Rs one crore per acre while the government offered only Rs 1 - 1.5 lakh only. 

Issuing a clear warning in the matter, the farmers said no authority has can mess with the farmers’ right to survive. In case the officers exert pressure on the farmers to give away their lands, they would have to face dire consequences.

Warning

If the government does not meet the demand of the farmers as far as the compensation is concerned, they will not allow the broadening of national highway to take place, the farmers said. Road related work was already in progress in some fields even before being acquired and that had to be stopped with immediate effect, protestors insisted.

Responding to their demands, the officer V Doddappa said discussions were on at higher level officers  about offering better compensation packages at higher level and if those talks come through, farmers are bound to better price for their lands that have been acquired by the government.

Leaders C N Srinivasa Naidu, B L Ravi, Narayanaswamy, freedom fighter C Narayanappa, Venkatram were present on the ocassion.