Final notification for Bidadi township by June-end: Shivakumar defends project

Bengaluru: The state government would issue final notification for acquiring about 7,481 acres of land for the proposed Greater Bengaluru Integrated Township (GBIT) near Bidadi by the end of June, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said on Wednesday.

He asserted that a majority of farmers were in favour of the project despite opposition from a section of landowners and political leaders.

Addressing reporters, Shivakumar said around 80 per cent of farmers have extended support to the township project and are requesting the government for faster compensation and implementation.

“We will begin issuing village-wise final notifications over the next one and half months. Compensation will be provided up-front for farmers who are in favour of the acquisition. If the landowners do not agree, we will deposit the money in the court and go ahead with the project,” he said.

The Deputy Chief Minister said the farmers surrendering land would be offered either 50 per cent developed residential land or 45 per cent developed commercial land in exchange for every acre acquired. “We will also provide monetary compensation but farmers should consider opting for land as it will give higher returns.”

Urging farmers not to sell the developed sites immediately, Shivakumar said the government would also provide an additional premium FAR of 0.6, which, according to him, could increase the value of the returned land by Rs 1 crore to Rs 1.5 crore per acre.

“We are not giving undeveloped sites like some private layout developers do. The township will have roads, water supply, power infrastructure and connectivity through NICE Road, Bengaluru-Mysuru Road and Kanakapura Road,” he said, adding that the proposed township had already been brought under the jurisdiction of the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board.

Shivakumar said the government would spend an average of Rs 5 crore per acre including both compensation and development costs. He also announced financial assistance ranging between Rs 30,000 and Rs 50,000 a year for farmers during the development phase, while landless labourers would receive Rs 25,000 annually.

Challenging Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy to come for a public debate regarding the project, Shivakumar pointed out that the land earmarked for the township was not dropped even when the BJP and JD(S) was in the government.

“When Kumaraswamy was the Chief Minister, he had all the powers to denotify the land but he did not. Even during the BJP government, nothing happened. In fact, during Jagadish Shettar’s tenure, nearly 1,000 acres from the notified area was allotted to the KIADB,” Shivakumar said, reiterating that he would not denotify even an inch of land.

Referring to criticism surrounding the project, Shivakumar maintained that the compensation package being offered was “better than what is offered to the farmers in Devanahalli ”. “My own relatives requested denotification of land but I did not agree. Whatever I have done, I have protected the interests of farmers,” he said, adding that he wants to leave a legacy by implementing this township.