JOIN US Several farmers interacted with Energy Minister D K Shivakumar when he visited the taluk to inspect the solar park work on Wednesday.
Some farmers said their land is not dry, but fertile. C Narayan, a farmer, said that his land is fertile and it is their only source of livelihood.
“The land has borewells and we are growing cash and vegetable crops,” the farmer added. Some others said their land is gomala which is set to be acquired for the project. “If the land is taken away, then our cattle and family will have nowhere to go,” they expressed apprehensions.
Hearing the appeals of the farmers, Shivakumar said that he will direct officials of revenue, agriculture and horticulture departments to conduct a survey in the region again and prepare a report. Later, the farmers and their representatives will be called to Vidhana Soudha to discuss the issue, he added.
He tried to assure the farmers that their land is not being taken away by private companies, but by the government.
Chennakeshwara D P, president of farmers’ association of Vallur, said, “The government officials conducted a survey and took all our land documents. But they have excluded us from the project.”
Another farmer accused the officials of demanding a bribe of Rs 5,000 to include his land in the project.