Date:30/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/30/stories/2008123054620700.htm

Karnataka

Karnataka ryots a peeved lot

Bageshree S.

Compensation for land acquired for Hardware, IT parks ‘meagre’

‘Decision taken by people hand in glove with officials’
‘Many farmers not even aware of meeting schedule’

BANGALORE: The compensation announced for acquisition of land for the Hardware Technology Park and the Information Technology (IT) Park near the Bengaluru International Airport (BIA) has left a section of farmers fuming.

Terming the compensation as “illogical and meagre,” they alleged that they were deliberately kept out of the final meeting during which the compensation package was announced.

The compensation for both hardware and IT parks was decided at different meetings, attended by officials of the Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB), the Department of Industries and Commerce, and some farmers.

While the hardware technology park will come up on 896 acres of land in Bagalur, Hoovinayakanahalli and Bandikodagehalli villages, the IT park will come up on 1,028.19 acres in Bandikodigehalli (B.K.) Palya, Singahalli, Arebinnamangala and Gollahalli villages.

M.T. Raja Reddy, a farmer from Hoovinayakanahalli, who lost his land to the Hardware Park project, said he and many in his village were not even served notices informing them about the meeting of December 24. “Only 10 to 15 people, who are hand in glove with the officials, were called for the final meeting, and they took the decision on behalf of all farmers,” he said.

According to the rates announced in the third and final meeting for the hardware park, farmers in Hoovinayakanahalli get Rs. 60 lakh an acre. “Farmers in the neighbouring village of Bagalur get Rs. 70 lakh,” said Ashwath Narayana P., another farmer from the same village.

IT park

Albert Victor A. from Singahalli, whose land is being acquired for the IT park, said 80 per cent of farmers who lost their lands were not aware of the schedule of the meeting.