Karnataka: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is expected to use a masterstroke when he sits across the table on Tuesday to negotiate with farmers resisting acquisition of their farmlands in Devanahalli to build a technology park.
The CM, Industries Minister MB Patil and local MLA & Food Minister KH Muniyappa, are expected to offer three choices. The farmers can accept a higher compensation for their plots or a higher proportion of the developed land as compensation.
It is the third option that is being viewed as a masterstroke.
Sections of protestors have complained that the government is trying to take over fertile agricultural land and displace them from agriculture.
The CM and his team may offer to spare these farmlands provided protestors agree to their villages being notified as a green belt for about 15 years. Any such declaration will prohibit activities other than farming. Industries Minister MB Patil on Sunday said he was aware of builders entering into agreements with landowners. The prospect of a green belt would upend all such deals.
The interest shown by a few global tech giants to invest billions at sites around the airport was seen as a godsend as Karnataka battles a jobs challenge. As the protests showed signs of spiraling out of control, revenue minister Krishna Byre Gowda came up with the green belt idea as an option.
Farmers must watch out for exploiters: Gowda
The revenue minister, in a chat with ET, said the compensation being offered to farmers is attractive, above board and net of taxes. Green belt has been thought of as an option to save farmers from exploitation from greedy land aggregators and builders. “Our government is doing our best to protect the interests of farmers. We don’t want them to fall into the trap of brokers and exploiters,” he said.
Sadly, Gowda added, agriculture is unable to meet the aspirations of the current generation and, also, unable to create enough livelihood opportunities for the rapidly increasing multitudes of youth. “We need to balance industrial investment if we must bring prosperity to our villages.” The minister said he came from an agriculturist family himself and has first-hand experience. His initiative to develop Narasapur in his native Kolar district as an industrial hub has led to thousands of women being employed.
The government had identified 1777 acres for acquisition across 13 villages to build a high-tech industrial park there. The proximity to the airport and the ring road is what makes it the most sought-after site for global technology majors.
Investors are keen on plots in Devanahalli and Doddaballapur taluks in Bengaluru rural district considering their strategic location and an evolving tech manufacturing ecosystem. Devanahalli is also home to Foxconn’s second largest facility outside of China as well as to Airbus, Boeing and Rolls-Royce.
Officials leading the investment efforts are pitching plots in and around Devanahalli for big ticket projects. Karnataka competes fiercely for investments with the neighbouring Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra.
The farmer agitation predates the Congress regime as the contentious industrial parks were planned by the previous BJP regime. The protests began in April 2022 soon after the KIADB issued a preliminary notification to acquire land.
The CM, Industries Minister MB Patil and local MLA & Food Minister KH Muniyappa, are expected to offer three choices. The farmers can accept a higher compensation for their plots or a higher proportion of the developed land as compensation.
It is the third option that is being viewed as a masterstroke.
Sections of protestors have complained that the government is trying to take over fertile agricultural land and displace them from agriculture.
The CM and his team may offer to spare these farmlands provided protestors agree to their villages being notified as a green belt for about 15 years. Any such declaration will prohibit activities other than farming. Industries Minister MB Patil on Sunday said he was aware of builders entering into agreements with landowners. The prospect of a green belt would upend all such deals.
The interest shown by a few global tech giants to invest billions at sites around the airport was seen as a godsend as Karnataka battles a jobs challenge. As the protests showed signs of spiraling out of control, revenue minister Krishna Byre Gowda came up with the green belt idea as an option.
Farmers must watch out for exploiters: Gowda
The revenue minister, in a chat with ET, said the compensation being offered to farmers is attractive, above board and net of taxes. Green belt has been thought of as an option to save farmers from exploitation from greedy land aggregators and builders. “Our government is doing our best to protect the interests of farmers. We don’t want them to fall into the trap of brokers and exploiters,” he said.
Sadly, Gowda added, agriculture is unable to meet the aspirations of the current generation and, also, unable to create enough livelihood opportunities for the rapidly increasing multitudes of youth. “We need to balance industrial investment if we must bring prosperity to our villages.” The minister said he came from an agriculturist family himself and has first-hand experience. His initiative to develop Narasapur in his native Kolar district as an industrial hub has led to thousands of women being employed.
The government had identified 1777 acres for acquisition across 13 villages to build a high-tech industrial park there. The proximity to the airport and the ring road is what makes it the most sought-after site for global technology majors.
Investors are keen on plots in Devanahalli and Doddaballapur taluks in Bengaluru rural district considering their strategic location and an evolving tech manufacturing ecosystem. Devanahalli is also home to Foxconn’s second largest facility outside of China as well as to Airbus, Boeing and Rolls-Royce.
Officials leading the investment efforts are pitching plots in and around Devanahalli for big ticket projects. Karnataka competes fiercely for investments with the neighbouring Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra.
The farmer agitation predates the Congress regime as the contentious industrial parks were planned by the previous BJP regime. The protests began in April 2022 soon after the KIADB issued a preliminary notification to acquire land.
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