The ongoing tussle between farmers in Devanahalli and the State government over acquisition of land for industrial parks and Special Economic Zones hit another low, after a meeting called by the Bangalore Rural Deputy Commissioner on Monday to finalise compensation packages remained inconclusive.

Around 300 people from five villages in and around Devanahalli met Rural DC D K Rangaswamy. But, according to members of the Raithara Horata Samithi, the meeting turned out to be a questioning session with no answers from the authorities. “When the demands raised by farmers with regard to the compensation are pending before the government, there was no point in organising such a meeting,” pointed out D S Gowda, convener of the Samithi.  Close to 3,644 acres of land has been identified in 15 villages in and around Devanahalli to create four townships and SEZs, including a 1,069-acre aerospace industrial production park.

Gowda alleged that notifications of land acquisition by the Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board didn’t offer enough time for the farmers to voice their objection.

 “There were no answers to our questions and the meeting didn’t serve any purpose. We are expected to meet the DC again, but no date has been finalised,” Gowda said after the meeting that was attended by senior KIADB officers.

No consent
Sources in the Rural DC office said that the meeting was organised to formalise the farmers’ consent to the industrial projects. However, Gowda claimed that no consent had been taken from the farmers.

The land-losers in the 15 villages are demanding close to 50 per cent of developed land per acre (around 13,500 sq ft for every acre) as compensation. Minister for Large and Medium Industries Katta Subramanya Naidu had earlier hinted that the government was open to allocating 40 per cent of developed land per acre (around 11,000 sq ft for every acre) as compensation.

Protest
Workers of Bangalore City District Congress Committee staged a protest rally in Bangalore on Monday at Town Hall condemning the alleged failure of the coalition government on all fronts.

Former Minister Roshan Baig came down heavily on the State government and alleged that the government had failed on all fronts. “The government is trying to sell the land acquired by encroachers in and around Bangalore to lesser prices. The government has no plans to utilise the same for the construction of Ashraya houses,” he charged and sought an inquiry into the auctioning process.

Former Minister R Ramalinga Reddy charged that the government was trying to acquire more agricultural land from farmers in the name of setting up of SEZs. All ministers had neglected interests of farming community. The government was trying to help realtors of neighbouring States in the name of SEZs, he added. Former ministers V Somanna, R Krishnappa and H M Revanna led the protesters.

Road blockade
Samata Saink Dal (SSD) activists staged a road blockade at Hoskote on Monday, for more than a hour to protest against the proposed land acquisition at Nandagudi for  SEZ.
SSD State president M Venkat Swamy alleged that the the government had violated directives of SEZ Act-2005, while submitting a proposal to the Centre. Even local farmers were not consulted, he charged.
The protesters submitted a memorandum to tahsildar urging the State government to stop the process of acquisition of lands. More than 1,000 farmers from 63 villages participated in the rally.