Villagers, under the banner of Sri Rama Sene, staged a protest demonstration along with their cattle, demanding reclaiming of the grazing land that was allotted to a private resort, in Hassan, on Thursday.
They alleged that the KIADB officials had tampered with the land records and had allotted the grazing land to a private firm ‘Pavanputra Resorts’ on the outskirts of the city. The protestors said, the grazing land, 12.29 acres, on survey number 10 at Dodda Basavanahalli meant for grazing cattle was illegally allotted to the firm by KIADB officials after tampering and destroying some documents.
They said, as a lake on the said land has been dried up, there was no water and fodder for cattle in more than 10 villages. They demanded that the grazing land be reclaimed and the lake be revived.
Deputy Commissioner Anbu Kumar, who received a memorandum from the protestors said, if the land was grazing land or kharab land (waste land) it is not possible to allot it to anybody. He assured that he would make a spot inspection within a week and take necessary action.
However, the police personnel did not allow the villagers to stage a protest with their cattle near the DC’s office. This led to a wordy duel between the agitators and the police. Later, the animals were tethered near the gate.