CM to meet farmers over land acquisition

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is set to meet farmers from the Devanahalli-Channarayapatna region on July 4 in response to ongoing protests against the acquisition of 1,777 acres of land across 13 villages in rural Bengaluru. The land, earmarked for a hi-tech defence and aerospace park by the Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB), has sparked resistance since 2022.

The protests began during the tenure of the previous BJP-led government under Basavaraj Bommai, which approved the acquisition in January 2022. Around 800 families have opposed the project, demanding that their agricultural land not be acquired for industrial development. They argue that the project threatens their livelihoods and was approved without proper consultation.

In light of mounting pressure, the Karnataka government last week excluded 495 acres from the original acquisition plan. CM Siddaramaiah will also bring the matter up for discussion during the state Cabinet meeting on July 2.

Farmer groups and activists have welcomed the CM’s willingness to engage, but remain firm in their demand for a complete rollback of the land acquisition. They insist that any development should prioritize local consent and sustainable planning.

The outcome of the July 4 meeting is expected to influence the future of the proposed industrial project. Government officials indicated that further adjustments could be made based on discussions with farmers and political consensus within the Cabinet. This development highlights the ongoing tension between infrastructure expansion and agricultural preservation in Karnataka’s rural districts.