New site for Posco project in a week: CM

No acquisition of land in Gadag unless farmers and seers agree

Faced with opposition from farmers and a number of Liingayat mutt heads in Gadag district, for the Rs 32,000-crore steel project, Yeddyurappa a day earlier had announced that there will be no forcible acquisition of land from farmers in Gadag.

He had also directed the deputy commissioner of Gadag to stop land acquisition process.
Speaking to reporters in Bangalore after a ‘curtain raiser’ function for Global Investors Meet 2012, the Chief Minister reiterated that the Korean steel major will not get land in Gadag.

“There is no rethink on Gadag. Following protest from farmers, we have put a full-stop. The government will relocate the project (Posco) elsewhere, where farmers voluntarily give land. Even if farmers of Gadag come forward to give land, the plant will not come up in that district”.

The chief minister said the company has sought a new location for setting up their steel plant. “We are searching and will be announcing the new location in a week’s time”, he said.

Industries Minister Murugesh Nirani had recently stated that if not Gadag, then land will be provided either in Bagalkot, Bijapur or Dharwad district.

Earlier in the day, Yeddyurappa, at a separate venue, said, “We are not going to acquire land unless all the 3,000 farmers and the seers agree. The farmers and seers must reach a consensus first,” said Yeddyurappa at his home office “Krishna.”

For the past few days Gadag district is resembling a political battlefield with farmers launching an agitation to fight against government’s attempt to acquire farmland for the steel plant. The issue took a political twist with former chief minister and JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy lending support to the anti-Posco movement.

Indirectly attacking Kumaraswamy, Yeddyurappa said he had not acquired land for setting up any resort.

“I have not acquired land for Eagleton resort project near Bidadi as done by a previous government,” Yeddyurappa said.