Karnataka - Belgaum   

Acquisition of farm land opposed

Staff Correspondent

They oppose acquisition of farm land for industrial purposes

Belgaum: Abhay Kumar Patil, BJP MLA from Bagewadi in Belgaum taluk, led a "rasta roko" agitation by farmers on Pune-Bangalore NH4 Express Highway, near Bhutramanatti, on Tuesday.

This affected traffic for about half-an-hour. Mr. Patil who was arrested was released later.

Minister for Water Resources K.S. Eshwarappa, who was on his way to participate in a function at Hidkal, assured the agitating farmers that their demands would be looked into.

Farmers from the villages of Muttyanatti, Bhutramanatti and adjoining areas have been opposing acquisition of agricultural land for industrial purposes. The Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board was allegedly acquiring fertile agricultural lands to facilitate industrial development, they alleged.

Mr. Patil said that the farmers were not against industrial development. But, it should not make an adverse impact on small and marginal farmers, he said.

The farmers said that the KIADB had identified 500 acres of land in these villages, a large portion of which was fertile. If the board went ahead with the acquisition, more than 300 small and marginal land-holders would be affected, they said.

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