MADIKERI: Grievances of four different parties, including the University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS), who had objected to the shifting of the congested private bus stand in Madikeri city to land belonging to the UAS here, was recorded by in-charge Assistant Commissioner and Madikeri tahsildar K.P. Somaiah here on Tuesday.

The district administration had on July 2 come out with a notification for acquiring the four-acre land belonging to the UAS to construct a private bus stand. Objections were called for at the time and Mr. Somaiah, who is land acquisition officer, had fixed the date for hearing objections on Tuesday.

The UAS was represented by scientist Govindaraj, from the Agriculture Research Station, Ponnampet, who said 23.74 acres of land was handed over the UAS in 1965 by the Government. Varieties of paddy were being developed on wetlands (proposed to be acquired now) for the last 40 years.

Dr. Govindaraj said as many as nine varieties of paddy had been developed in the research station since its inception. Paddy varieties developed at the research station here had received international recognition, he added. The UAS developed disease-resistant varieties as well and the location was the best research facility among the hill station areas in the State, he said.

Research

S.P. Mahadevappa from Kanur said UAS land could not be used for other purposes than those connected to research on paddy. J.A.Karumbaiah, former president of the erstwhile zilla parishat, raised similar objections. Mr. Karumbaiah had field an affidavit before the land acquisition officer. Harry Benedict, from Devarapura in Gonicoppa, who too had filed objections, was absent.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail