Three years over, farmers still to get compensation

Land losing ryots in district left in lurch by the government

Repeated appeals to the government to pay up the compensation has not yielded any results, even as the road widening work is apace.

The work was taken up when Chikkaballapur was made the district in 2007. Agricultural lands from Yaluvahalli, Devashettyhalli and Bidaganahalli were acquired for the road widening.

The move witnessed stiff protest from the farmers but the local public representatives intervened and promised to get them good amount of compensation to which farmers agreed. But the public representatives have long forgotten their promise.

The government had fixed Rs 1.50 lakh for agricultural land and Rs 1.55 lakh for irrigated land.

“Lands in Devanahalli which is just 14 km from here cost crores, but the government has fixed land rates only in lakhs,” said an aggrieved farmer.

After Member of Legislative Assembly K P Bachegowda urged the government to increase the compensation, the government agreed for Rs 20 lakh per acre, farmers’ leader Sonnegowda told Deccan Herald. The government even distributed Rs 3,500 per gunta but never paid the rest of the amount, he added. 

The farmers who lost their lands have not taken up any occupation waiting for compensation, but the government seem to be bnot bothered in the least about them, he added.

Protest today

Demanding immediate release of compensation, the farmers under the leadership of Congress leader Yaluvahalli Ramesh will stage a protest on Wednesday at 11 am. They will lay siege to the Deputy Commissioner’s office.