The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Farmers protest granting of cultivable land for construction

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Nov 23, 2005

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Farmers protest granting of cultivable land for construction

Staff Reporter

Allege farmland given to KIADB; take out procession to Deputy Commissioner's office

BANGALORE: Farmers from Bangalore Urban and Rural districts on Tuesday protested against the granting of cultivable Government land and the land acquired by the Government, for construction of houses and industries.

Several farmers, led by Karnataka Pranta Raita Sangha, took out a protest march from Chikka Lalbagh to Bangalore Urban Deputy Commissioner's Office.

The farmers said that though they have been cultivating Government land for a long time, they were not given the land grant certificate (sagovali cheeti). Instead, the Government is displacing them from the land and is giving it to private persons. The government, they said, had granted 173 acres of land in Bhimakuppe village in Bangalore (South) taluk. Of the 173 acres, 50 acres had been granted to Rajiv Gandhi Hostel and 24 acres had been given to Dalita Kriya Samithi.

The farmers alleged that the Government has given cultivable land in Hennagara, H. Hosalli, Chittaganahalli, and Kachanayakanahalli in Anekal taluk to the Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board. The land in Aadigondanahalli, Jigala, Yedavanahalli, Hinnalli and Naganayakanahalli, and Lingapura, also in Anekal Taluk, had been given to Karnataka Housing Board. The farmers said that the Government, instead of granting the land for housing and industry development, should make use of the land for construction of hospitals and playgrounds, which will be beneficial for people.

The farmers pointed that the Government is not giving title deeds to those staying in houses built on Government land. The Government was giving occupancy certificates, which, they alleged, was not of any use.

The farmers have asked the Government to take action and allow farmers to make use of the land. If the government does not take action, they will go on an indefinite fast, the farmers said.

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