The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Land acquisition cost goes up

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Wednesday, Mar 19, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Land acquisition cost goes up

Staff Reporter

It will be Rs. 55 lakh an acre

Revised acquisition cost to be ratified by the KIADB
Aerospace SEZ coming up on 918 acres of land

BANGALORE: The compensation amount for agriculture land to be acquired for the aerospace cluster special economic zone at Devanahalli is likely to go up with farmers and the government coming to an understanding on the cost of acquisition.

It is reliably learnt that the acquisition cost per acre is likely to go up from Rs. 30 lakh to Rs. 55 lakh in Bangalore Rural district and from Rs. 35 lakh per acre to Rs. 75 lakh in Bangalore Urban district.

Sources in the Government said that an understanding with the farmers of Devanahalli was arrived at a meeting on Saturday though the acquisition cost had to be ratified by the Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB).

The farmers have been given the option to either accept compensation in cash or retain 8,500 sq ft. of developed land for every acre that they part with.

Demand

The farmers had been demanding a higher compensation ever since the rate was notified in 2007 with an acre of land in rural and urban districts being awarded Rs. 30 lakh and Rs. 35 lakh respectively.

They had pointed out that the rate fixed for their land was far less than the prevailing market price in the area.

The aerospace SEZ is coming up on 918 acres of land in Singalli, Hunusuru and Dummanahalli in Bangalore Urban district and Battramaranahalli, Jannahalli, Kowadadasanahalli, Baladimmanahalli and Betkote village coming under Bangalore Rural district.

Farmers’ meet

Raithara Horata Samithi convener D.S. Gowda told The Hindu that those farmers who are likely to lose their land met at Battramaranahalli village in Devanahalli taluk on Tuesday to discuss the issue, and that the cash compensation would be accepted. He, however, said that the farmers were not happy about the quantum of developed land to be given to the farmers if they chose to take land instead of cash.

“We are seeking 9,600 sq ft of developed land as against 8,500 sq ft, which has been offered to farmers,” Mr. Gowda said.

While demanding employment opportunities for locals in the industries that are coming up on the land they part with, the farmers also said that Government should look at different regions for setting up industries. “We have lost enough land in the area for development, and more land should not be acquired in the area,” he added.

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