Bidadi land acquisition: GBDA data claims over 80% consent, farmers dispute figures
Official data from the Greater Bengaluru Development Authority (GBDA) accessed by The Hindu claims that over 80% of farmers have given their assent to part
Official data from the Greater Bengaluru Development Authority (GBDA) accessed by The Hindu claims that over 80% of farmers have given their assent to part with their land in Bidadi However, farmers contend that the data is misleading According to the data, 1,383 objections were received after the preliminary notification was issued earlier this year. The total land owned by those who filed objections stood at 2,248 acres, while the total land required from farmers is 7,295.15 acres. Thus, about 30.82% of the landowners initially objected to the project. A review hearing on the objections was conducted following the preliminary notification. According to the data, all 1,383 persons who had objected to the project attended the hearing, and 503 of them subsequently gave their assent. Following the hearing, the extent of land owned by those continuing to object to the project reduced to 1,234.03 acres, which constitutes 16.91% of the total land proposed for acquisition.
Nagaraj Ganakal, Chairperson of the GBDA, told The Hindu that this data was presented to Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, following which he announced that over 80% of the landowners had agreed to part with their land. However, Prakash G., a leader among the protesting farmers, told The Hindu that they possess records of objecting farmers who collectively own more than 4,000 acres of land. “Let there be a public disclosure of the data. They are merely presenting skewed numbers to mislead people and demoralise us,” he said. Nagaraju M.R., a farmer from Mandalahalli, alleged that the figures have been miscalculated by the GBDA by considering only a single survey number belonging to a landowner who objected to the project, even though the individual owns multiple parcels of land.
“When we filed objections, we listed our survey numbers individually and did not mention the total extent of land owned by each person. While calculating the total acreage owned by a farmer, they have considered only one survey number, which amounts to a miscalculation,” he alleged. However, speaking to The Hindu, a senior GBDA official dismissed Mr. Nagaraju’s claims and said the calculations were accurate and had been verified multiple times. Acquisition and compensation According to a senior GBDA official, both the preliminary and final notifications were issued under the Karnataka Urban Development Authorities Act, while compensation is being provided under the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (RFCTLARR) Act of 2013. The government will provide livelihood support from the date of the final notification until monetary compensation is paid or developed sites are handed over.
The BriefWire