Compensation fixed for Kempe Gowda Layout land losers

After deliberations with farmers’ leaders, the BDA has issued a statement fixing Rs one crore per acre as compensation for fertile land in Mangenhalli and Rs 80 lakh per acre for the land to be acquired in the remaining 11 villages. With this, the BDA’s acquisition of more than 4,000 acres of land for the layout from 12 villages, will cost the State exchequer over Rs 350 crore by way of compensation alone.

The 11 villages include Shigehalli, Kanahalli, Kodigehalli, Komaghatta, Bheemanakuppe, Ramasagara, Sulikere, Kenchapura, Ramasandra, K Krishna Sagar and Challaghata.

The BDA has also sweetened the deal for farmers by extending benefits under the encouragement scheme for voluntary parting of land by the decision to give one site per acre to each farmer at a nominal rate.

However, the order that has been passed by the BDA also places the farmers in a Catch-22 situation with serious implications.

As per the statement of the BDA: “Once the farmer accepts the compensation then he cannot move the judiciary demanding extra compensation. He will have to part with the land without any conditions.”

Also, “Once the farmer is issued the notice by the BDA, 15 days from that date, they will have to part with their land without any questions asked or approaching the judiciary contesting the same”.