Bidadi farmers launch ‘Appiko’ drive to denounce township project
Farmers protesting against the Bidadi Township Project on Sunday intensified their opposition by launching an “Appiko Drive”, on the lines of the Chipko Movement, to
Farmers protesting against the Bidadi Township Project on Sunday intensified their opposition by launching an “Appiko Drive”, on the lines of the Chipko Movement, to highlight the loss of green cover that the project is expected to cause. The demonstration, organised as a form of protest, was also aimed at highlighting the contrast of the project with the Bangalore Development Authority’s (BDA) record plantation drive of 15 lakh saplings in the city, endorsed by Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar.
Hundreds of farmers embarked on a protest march from Bairamangala to Bannigiri village. Ending the rally at Bannigiri, the farmers hugged the trees and denounced the township project. Speaking to The Hindu, Nagaraju M.R., a farmer leader from Mandallahalli, said the protest was intended to highlight the contrasting positions taken by Congress leaders. “In Bengaluru, the Chief Minister called for planting as many saplings as possible to improve the city’s green cover, while he is ready to destroy a massive green cover here in Bidadi.
Is this the treatment we (the residents of areas around the outskirts of Bengaluru) deserve while the people in the city get green cover?” he said. “What is the point of planting so many saplings when there is no genuine intention to protect the existing green cover?” he questioned. However, the Greater Bengaluru Development Authority (GBDA) maintains that the project is critical for Bengaluru and will also benefit the state’s economy.
Notably, Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar received a Guinness World Records plaque on Sunday for driving the record plantation of 15 lakh saplings to mark Kempegowda Jayanti.
The BriefWire