Environment activist Leo Saldhana on Saturday said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has remained silent on the issue of the displacement of thousands of villagers in and around Amrutmahal Kaval region.
At an interaction programme on land, water and humans, organised by Karnataka State Amrutmahal Kaval Horata Samithi, he alleged, “When the previous governments gave away lands in Amrutmahal Kaval, Siddaramaiah, as the Opposition leader, lashed out at them with an intention to fight for the cause of AHINDA and Kurubas. But after becoming the Chief Minister, he has maintained silence on this issue.”
Saldhana said the State government is planing to evict people in more than 60 villages in Amrutmahal Kaval region for setting up a mega industrial defence installation centre.
“Constructing huge buildings and developing industries don’t mean development. Increasing the groundwater level by growing trees and empowering villagers are real development,” Saldhana remarked.
There is a need to preserve the gomala (grazing) lands as they are being encroached upon by different people all over the State, Saldhana added.