The Hindu : Karnataka News : Agitating farmers get Medha’s support

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Karnataka

Karnataka

Agitating farmers get Medha’s support

Staff Correspondent

Farmers are against land acquisition for airport in Bellary
Medha for Chaganur and Siriwar on November 10

BELLARY: Medha Patkar of the Narmada Bachao Andolan has extended her support to the 11-month farmers’ agitation against the State Government’s move to acquire fertile farmland at Chaganur and Siriwar villages in Bellary taluk to construct an airport.

Ms. Patkar and Arun Roy, environmentalist and social activist, will visit Chaganur and Siriwar villages on November 10.

They will hold discussions with the farmers of these villages and address a public meeting. Ms. Patkar will participate in a tractor rally from Chaganur to Bellary and submit a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner, according to Mallikarjun Reddy, convenor of the Chaganur-Siriwar Neeravari Bhoorakshana Horata Samiti.

The farmers of Chaganur and Siriwar villages in Bellary taluk launched an agitation after G. Janardhan Reddy, Minister for Tourism and Infrastructure Development, announced that a new airport would be constructed near these villages a few months ago. They have also filed a court case against the State Government’s move to acquire their fertile farmland.

Even S.R. Nayak, Chairman of the State Human Rights Commission, had stated that the State Government should drop its move of constructing an airport on farmland with irrigation facility.

The Government has entrusted the task of acquiring the land identified in the two villages to the Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board.

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