'Panel sought to study condition of farmers'

Senior coffee grower B L Ramdas has urged the court to appoint a panel to study the condition of farmers. Farmers have met injustice in row over Inam land and encroachment of government land. Based on the report by the panel, the court should spell out its verdict. 

Speaking at a protest rally organised by Kalasa Baloor Growers Association and Karnataka Growers Association against the implementation of Project Tiger and eviction of encroached land here on Tuesday, he said  the government is yet to issue title deeds for the seven lakh acre land, applied under Form 50 and 53. 

MLA B B Ningaiah said that he will tender resignation if injustice is met at the farmers with regard to Inam land and encroachment. To solve row over Inam land, there is a need to take up legal fight along with pressurising the government to solve the problem.

 “If the  government has commitment to its people, then it can rescue those who have encroached the land for livelihood.” 

Congress Kissan Cell State Vice President Sachin Meega said that S S Hiremath is carrying out an alternative administration through the court.  If the forest department clears arecanut and coffee plantations with the help of police, then criminal case can be filed against them. 

The protesters urged the government to reject Balasubramanian committee report on the encroachment of revenue land. There is a need to bring in amendment to land revenue act to protect the interest of farmers.

Title deeds should be issued to farmers who have been cultivating on Inam and Gomala land.  The government should also file an affidavit on the cultivable land in the state. The Project Tiger proposal should be dropped. 

Forest Rights Committee should be constituted in the villages and title deeds should be issued to those who have been dwelling inside the forest for more than 25 years. 

To find a permanent solution to the problem of encroachment, a committee under the chairmanship of  Chief Minister should be constituted, the protesters said.