K'taka farmers seek better prices for 12k acres acquired at Kudatini

Ballari: Land loser farmers have alleged that the government had ‘cheated’ them in fixing proper prices for 12,000 acres of land ‘forcibly’ acquired at Kudatini in the district. 

U Basavaraju, state president of the Raitha Sangha, told a press conference on Thursday that the government had acquired land from them ‘by deceit’, when B S Yediyurappa was the chief minister. “At that time, Siddaramaiah visited us at the protest site and promised to set right the injustice. But he has not done the needful after becoming chief minister.” 

“Courts have ruled in favour of farmers, fixing a compensation of Rs 1.2 crore to Rs 1.5 crore per acre. The losses to farmers comes to around Rs 22,000 crore for the 12,000 acres acquired,” Basavaraju said. 

“So much land has been taken for three iron and steel factories, when 5,000 to 6,000 acres are enough. So, 50% of the acquired land should be returned to farmers as developed land,” he said. 

“First, we will protest in front of the houses of MLAs. Next s, we will call for a Ballari bandh. The third phase will be a padayatra by 3,000 farmers to Bengaluru, where an indefinite agitation will be launched at Freedom Park.” 

CPI(M) general secretary Satyababu said the farmers will meet Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy, demanding that a steel factory be set up on the 2,800 acres of land in possession of the NMDC.