Farmers resist govt’s sneak plan to acquire land
Elected representatives unaware of the move to 'grab' 3,209 acres
The State government’s decision to acquire over 3,209 acres of fertile land surreptitiously has enraged farmers in two villages of Badami taluk.
The farmers have planned to stage a protest against the Government which kept them in the dark about acquisition of land for industrial purposes in Kerur and Narenur villages.
The State government, in its Gazetteer, published a notification dated March 26, 2011, announcing its decision to acquire 1,648 acres in Kerur and 1,560 acres in Narenur village.
Surprisingly, district in-charge minister Govind M Karjol, MP P C Gaddigowdar and legislator M K Pattanashetty are also in the dark over the notification issued by undersecretary to the Commerce and Industries Department K H Sheshagiri.
Opposing the Government’s move, the farmers of both the villages on Monday submitted a memorandum to the minister who was on a visit to Badami.
Karjol said that he was not aware of the notification and promised them that the Government wouldn’t make them give up their land. However, he added that the government would not drop its acquisition plans and would only take land from willing farmers.
According to the sources in the Revenue department, lands in survey numbers from 406 to 409 and 416 to 461 in Kerur and Narenur along the National Highway 218 and State Highway 133 are to be acquired. The lands notified for acquisition have been certified ‘A’ grade, the sources said. As the proposed Malaprabha Left Bank canal will irriagate the land near Kerur, the farmers hoped for a bright future till they heard the government’s plan to acquire their land.
A farmer and advocate H S Katagi told Deccan Herald that the farmers would not part with their land for industries.
“The farmers harvest two crops a year and also cultivate grapes, pomegranate and other horticultural crops,” he said.
During monsoon, they grow green gram, onions, chilli, cotton and in the post-monsoon period they grow maize and horse gram.
The region is home to peacocks and rabbits, he said adding that the proposed industries may pose danger to the national historical monuments and architectural marvels of Badami.
