Bangalore Urban Deputy Commissioner had invited the owners of 700 acres of land for a meeting at Ambedkar Bhavan. The land has been notified for acquisiton for a proposed township.
A heated argument ensued between the officers and the farmers as the Deputy Commissioner asked mediapersons to leave the hall so that he can begin the meeting.
Farmers demanded that the meeting be held in the presence of media, and the Deputy Commissioner conceded.
Later the farmers alleged that the meeting itself was against the Supreme Court verdict which directed the State Government to submit a detail report on the project after a meeting of the high-power committee under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister.
Raghu, a farmers’ advocate, said there was no need to fix the price until the Chief Minister convened the meeting as per the verdict.
Panchakshari, whose 20 acres has been notified for the project, said he would not part with even an inch of land for the project.
“I have enquired in all government offices for the original alignment of the project, but no officer knows the alignment,” he said.
Another farmer from Gonipura Putte Gowda objected to the Government notifying his land for the project.
“How can the Government fix price for my land? What makes the Government assume that we are all ready to part with our land?” he charged. Within an hour after the meeting commenced, the farmers began the protest demanding immediate cancellation of the meeting.
The Deputy Commissioner’s repeated appeals to withdraw the protest and take part in the price fixation process proved futile. He later adjourned the meeting.
Addressing reporters Aiyappa said the district administration had recorded the farmers’ opinions and would convey them to the senior officials. The date for next meeting would be decided later.
Meetings today, tomorrow
But the meeting with the farmers of Tippur and Seegehalli will be held on Wednesday and Thursday as per the schedule.
Anticipating protest by the farmers the district administration had deployed police personnel in and around the auditorium, and hence, more policemen than farmers were seen at the venue of the meeting.
DH News Service
