The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Landowners of Devanahalli meet Deve Gowda

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jun 22, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Landowners of Devanahalli meet Deve Gowda

Staff Reporter

‘Farmers should get 50 per cent of developed land’
KIADB accused of violating zoning regulations

BANGALORE: The former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda on Thursday promised farmers that he would raise the issue of giving back 40 per cent of developed land to those who lose their agricultural fields for developmental purposes with the State Government.

His assurances came during a meeting with farmers of Devanahalli, who met him to seek his intervention in the issue of land acquisition.

Farmers from 15 villages of Jala hobli in Bangalore North taluk met Mr. Gowda following acquisition process initiated by the State Government for four major projects, including hardware project and aerospace spare parts cluster in the area.

During the meeting, farmers said that if the Government wanted to acquire agricultural land, farmers who cede their land should be given 50 per cent of the developed land.

‘Stop acquisition’

Farmers demanded that the acquisition process that had been initiated should be stopped.

D.S. Gowda, Raitha Horata Samiti convenor, who led the delegation, said the Government had sought to acquire 3,600 acres in 15 villages and the future of farmers in these areas had become bleak. “We are against acquisition of farm land. But in case the Government wants to acquire land, it should give us the prevailing market price,” he added.

He said that these industries could be located in dry lands, which were 50 to 60 km away from the city.

Mr. D.S. Gowda said that they had requested the Government to amend the land acquisition policy of the Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB) in the coming legislative session.

He said, “The KIADB had started acquisition process ignoring temples, burial grounds and water bodies besides fertile soil and irrigation infrastructure.”

Further, he said that by starting acquisition process in the area, the KIADB had violated the zoning regulations.

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