Chikkamagaluru: District In-Charge Minister K J George stated that a delegation of coffee growers has to meet the revenue minister to prevent the cancellation of land allotments.
Speaking at a meeting with coffee growers in the City, George said, “The decision must come from the revenue minister and the principal secretary of the Revenue Department. Therefore, it is appropriate to meet them and explain the situation.”
Coffee growers’ leader B S Jayaram expressed concerns, stating, “A team of officials investigated the situation in the pretext of illegal allotments. Even land grants issued in 1982 are being cancelled. Thousands of allotments are being revoked. Farmers have built their livelihoods around these lands. If they lose it now, their lives will be ruined. This may also trigger suicides.”
He pointed out that the land allotments were approved by a land regularisation committee chaired by legislators. Only illegal grants should have been cancelled, but instead, all approvals are being revoked indiscriminately.
“Many of us have taken bank loans based on the lands. Families have divided the land among siblings for farming. If there were errors in the approval process, the government should rectify them and protect the farmers’ lands instead of cancelling everything. What will the farmers do if the land is taken away suddenly?” he asked.
George clarified he was not the authority to decide since this was a matter related to the Revenue Department. Even the deputy commissioner does not have jurisdiction over this. Therefore, it is best to discuss the issue with the revenue minister and the principal secretary. If representatives of the growers’ association travel to Bengaluru with the legislators, they can meet Krishna Byre Gowda to address the issue, he said.