JOIN USFarmers, residents rue land acquired for projects
Many farmers and residents, whose land the government has acquired for various development projects in and around Kempegowda International Airport, have not received monetary compensation even after many years in Devanahalli constituency.
This is one of the major problems the people in and around Devanahalli face and was voiced out by many at ‘Janaspandana: Citizens for Change’, a Deccan Herald and Prajavani event, held at Dr BR Ambedkar Bhavan in Devanahalli constituency on Friday.
“The government has paid a compensation of merely Rs 6 lakh to Rs 20 lakh to the farmers here. If the government further asks the farmers to pay the toll, it is unacceptable. I will raise the issue in the cabinet,” said Devanahalli MLA Nisarga Narayanaswamy.
‘No dearth of problems’
Addressing the event, he said: “There is no dearth of problems in the constituency here. We have to resolve them keeping the time in mind. Citizens should not sit at home after registering their complaints. They should go behind the officials and get them resolved at the earliest.”
Rangaswamy G, a resident of the constituency, said: “I had four acres of land in Anneshwara village in survey number 37/21. The KIADB acquired the land. But I have not received a compensation for 20 years. If they provide at least one acre of land, it will help us to eke our livelihood.”
Responding to this, Rajanna, tahsildar, said: “Bring the necessary documents to my office on Monday, and we will ensure that justice is done to you.”
Another resident, Chandrashekar Balepur said: “The airport authority acquired my grandfather’s land many years ago. Till now, we have not received the compensation. The government is not even considering our applications to provide the compensation.”
The tahsildar responded: “If there is no approval from the land acquisition department, we cannot provide the compensation. If you bring the related documents on Wednesday, we can check.”
Another group of residents from Murthy Hakkupete, Devanahalli said: “The place where Akash Hospital has been built was at first allotted to build homes for the poor people. Please provide some places for poor people.”
The chairman of Murthy Township said: “A case in the court is going on in this regard. Fifty title deeds have been given. But they have not built any houses. If we receive directions from the court, we will act accordingly.”
A farmer complained about the BMTC collecting excessing fare in buses. Venkatesh, the leader of a farmer’s association, said: “Due to the toll collected at Devanahalli, the passengers travelling in BMTC buses are shelling out Rs 6 extra every time. Buses going to Chikkaballapur from Bengaluru do not stop at Devanahalli bus stand, inconveniencing passengers. Sometimes, conductors do not allow students with bus passes to board buses.”
To this S K Hiremath, BMTC official for Devanahalli replied: “The increase in toll collection is the Central government’s decision. We will make arrangements for buses to stop at bus stops. I will also discuss the matter with the MLA. We will also deploy buses to Vijayapura.”
Highlighting lack of streetlights in Devanahalli, G S Raveendra, a member of the town panchayat, said: “From the toll gate to Devanahalli, please provide streetlights as it will help in preventing accidents on the route. Also, put up barricades and build a service road to ease congestion.
MLA Nisarga Narayanaswamy said, “We will take necessary measures in the public interest.”
“I do not have much experience in politics as I am the first-time MLA. But I am aware of the problems here. I had taken up the issue of excess fare being collected in BMTC buses and it was resolved in the previous meeting. The officials had agreed not to collect the toll from people. I do not know how has this problem resurfaced,” said Nisarga Narayanaswamy.
He said in six months, he has received Rs 70 crore fund from the state government for constituency development works and will undertake the work soon.