BELLARY: The dispute over land acquisition for the Bellary airport project has taken a new turn with some of the farmers coming forward to give their lands for the project. Some big farmers, who have lands at the tail end of the Tungabhadra High Level Canal (HLC) area, submitted a memorandum to Deputy Commissioner B Shivappa on Monday and expressed a desire to give land for the project on certain conditions.
The demands include a compensation of Rs 12 lakh per acre, provision for basic facilities like roads, temple, schools and access to canal water.
While speaking to the DC, some members described themselves as “true farmers not belonging to any political party.’’ “We have realised the importance of the project,’’ farmers reportedly told DC Shivappa.’’
Double trouble
Farmers of Siriwar-Chaganur had been strongly opposing the land acquisition policy announced by the government for the Bellary airport project.
While in some other parts of the state like Hubli, the farmers have been agitating for higher compensation, the story is altogether different in Bellary.
Farmers here had outrightly rejected the project, if it is to be taken up at the cost of their land.
Farmer leaders and some other forums supporting their agitation have been suggesting the state government to select some other barren land in the district for the project. They had firmly refused to part with their land, which is fertile.
They recently held a 'urulu chaluvali' (rolling on road to protest) in Bellary. and are now are planning to storm the city in their bullock carts in a couple of days.
Now with the emergence of such new farmers, problems of Siriwar, Chaganur farming community have been doubled, since they have to face the district administration as well the new clan of farmers from their native villages.