Farmers protesting in Devanahalli.
Credit: DH FILE PHOTO
Bengaluru: Heeding the three-year-long protest of farmers in Devanahalli taluk against the proposed land acquisition by the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB), the state government has partially dropped the plan, exempting 495 acres out of the total 1,777 acres.
After a meeting with Minister for Food and Civil Supplies KH Muniyappa, who is also the legislator representing Devanahalli, Industries and Infrastructure Minister MB Patil on Tuesday announced that the government has decided to exempt 495 acres in Channarayapatna, Mattibarlu and Shrotriya Tellohalli villages of Devanahalli taluk from the land acquisition process.
“It has also been decided not to acquire land for industrial purposes in Channarayapatna hobli in future,” confirmed Patil.
Protest to continue
However, the agitating farmers are not convinced and have decided to continue their protest. They even announced a ‘Devanahalli Chalo’ march on Wednesday.
Briefing about the decision to give exemption to some villages, minister Patil explained: “In the year 2021 a notification was issued to acquire 1,777 acres in 13 villages of Channarayapatna hobli for the proposed defense and aerospace park. Even an order was issued in 2022. The farmers of this hobli have already lost their lands twice for industrial purposes and the land is fertile. Considering these facts, we have decided to exempt 495 acres in three villages: 231.23 acres in Channarayapatna, 185.18 acres in Muttibarlu and 78.21 acres in Shrotiya Telohalli.”
However, he clarified that in rest of the ten villages, which include Palya, Haralur, Polanahalli, Gokere Bachenahalli, Nalluru, Mallepura, Nallappanahalli, Cheemachanahlli, Muddenahalli and Hadyala, acquisition of the remaining 1,232 acres will continue.
“The farmers who lose lands will be compensated and the district administration will fix the amount. If the farmers wish to get a share in the developed land instead of compensation, they can even opt for that. If the developed land is one acre, they are eligible for 10,771 square feet of land,” the minister said.
Muniyappa has appealed to the farmers to withdraw their protest following the decision. Meanwhile, the farmers alleged the government was trying to “divide and rule”.
'Divide and rule policy'
Following the announcement by minister Patil, the Samyukta Horata
Karnataka and Channarayapatna Bhoo Swadheena Virodhi Horata Samiti held a news conference and said: “Of the 1,777 acres spread across 13 villages, the minister announced exempting only three villages and around 500 acres. This is nothing but a divide and rule policy. There is no question of withdrawing the agitation.”
Notably, during his previous tenure as the chief minister, Siddaramaiah had promised the farmers of withdrawing the industrial area plans, if he came to power again.
Cut-off box - What farmers are saying l Following the announcement farmers allege govt is trying to “divide and rule” l Agitators say of the 1777 acres spread across 13 villages the minister announced exempting only three villages and around 500 acres l Samiti says will not withdraw the agitation announces a ‘Devanahalli Chalo’ on Wednesday