Farmers Concerned over KIADB

The Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB) has plans to acquire 501 acres of farmland at Ghugeranatti and Bambarga in Bambarga gram panchayat limits and Godihal in Vantamuri gram panchayat limits in Belgaum taluk. The land proposed for acquisition is 10 km away from Belgaum and adjacent to Pune-Bangalore Express Highway (NH 4) from Bennalli to Bhutaramantti.

The land acquisition wing of KIADB headed by a special land acquisition officer in Dharwad issued notice on September 6, 2006, to acquire 373 acres and 19 guntas at Bambarga and 127 acres and 24 guntas at Ghugarenatti, but could not proceed further following protests by farmers. They staged a “rasta roko” on November 9, 2006.

But the KIADB issued notices on March 8, 2008, to a few farmers of these villages. This had had become a cause for concern among the farmers of Ghugarenatti. If land was acquired, the entire village would have to be relocated. KIADB had left out the land along the highway owned by some “influential” persons. Village goutaan (common) land and barren hillocks under social forestry had also been left out. Sources in KIADB said the board had asked the tahsildar of Belgaum to prepare records to enable it to issue a final notification for land acquisition. People of the villages where KIADB has plans to acquire land are hoping that the Government would reconsider its move.
Now here we go again, How do we have industrial development without disturbing Agriculture. This is a Question being asked in all the states and all on fronts. Take it in Singur or in Ratnagiri or Jamshedpur. The farmers are now unwilling to give their land for industrial development.
I would rather suggest the Supreme court (it will have to intervene one day for sure) in this matter and make a national policy for land acquisition. Until then, we will have unsatisfied farmers and unsatisfied Industrialists.

Original Story in The Hindu