Prevent misuse of agricultural land, urge farmers

They lay siege to DCs office in Chikkaballapur, accuse government of failing to protect their interest

 The Bharatiya Kisan Sangha has demanded that use of agricultural land for non-agricultural purposes should be prohibited.

Members of the Sangha staged a protest in front of the deputy commissioner’s office here on Monday, urging for fulfilment of their various demands.
Other demands

Promoting organic farming; uninterrupted supply of three-phase power for 12 hours a day to facilitate use of irrigation pump sets in rural aras and single-phase power for rest of the day; increase in prices of milk byproducts and release of support price for milk are among other demands put forth by the members.

Sangha district unit president V Krishnappa, addressing the protesters, said that the use of fertile land for non-agricultural purposes will have adverse effects on both nation and farmers. Measures should be taken to provide fodder for livestock free of cost in the drought-hit districts, he added.

He alleged that the government has not been able to ensure welfare of farmers and failed in protecting their interests.

M Narayanaswamy, Shivamurthy, Venkatareddy, Ranganarasimhaiah and Ashwathreddy are among the other protesters.

Farmers demand land

Farmers of Yaragol in Bangarpet taluk, Kolar district, have demanded that Rs 10 lakh per acre or alternative land along with compensation should be given for parting with their land for the drinking water project.

They staged a dharna on Monday in front of the deputy commissioner’s office here on Monday in this connection. Nearly 127 acres of land owned by more than 50 families will be under water due to the proposed irrigation project.

The government has fixed Rs 60,000 per acre, which is far lesser at a time when prices of land is skyrocketing. Hence, the farmers should be given houses and alternative land, as otherwise they would be left with neither an alternative source of income nor jobs.

They said that gomala land (grazing land) at Banganattam, Venkatapura, Yaragol, Kendoli, Bellegoudur, Balamande and Garudakempanahalli can be distributed among the farmers who would be displaced by the project.