Farmers voice opinions on Shidlaghatta land acquisition

CH NEWS

The Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board has identified 2,863 acres of land for the development of an industrial zone near Jangmakote, in the Shidlaghatta taluk of Chikkaballapur district.

The district in-charge minister, Dr. M.C. Sudhakar, confirmed that the process of collecting farmers’ opinions regarding land acquisition is currently underway. A meeting with local farmers was held on Friday at Jyothi College in Jangmakote, where discussions on the challenges arising from the project took place. The area under consideration includes more than 500 acres of government land, along with private holdings.

The strategic location of Jangmakote, near the Bengaluru International Airport and national highways, makes it a prime spot for industrial growth. The development of this industrial zone is expected to attract more investors to the region, creating both direct and indirect job opportunities for the local population. The government has already reached out to farmers, urging them to voluntarily provide their land for development. While some farmers have shown a willingness to participate, others have expressed concerns about the loss of livelihood and future security, particularly regarding their children’s prospects.

The government has assured that no forceful measures will be taken and that all decisions will respect the farmers’ final choice. In the meeting, farmers signed agreements indicating their stance—those willing to part with their land signed on white paper, while those opposed did so on red paper.  Present at the meeting were Shidlaghatta MLA B.N. Ravikumar, KIIDB CEO Mahesh, and other local officials, along with farmers’ organizations.