Bengaluru, Jul 15 (PTI) The Karnataka government on Wednesday issued the second phase of final land acquisition notifications for four villages for the proposed GBIT project near Bidadi in Bengaluru South district, even as residents and farmers staged demonstrations both for and against it.
The final notifications cover about 775 acres in Bannigiri, 1,460 acres in Aralalasandra, 315 acres in K.G. Gollarapalya and 2,390 acres in Hosur, all in Ramanagara taluk.
The first set of final notifications was issued last month for the acquisition of 499 acres across three villages in Ramanagara and Harohalli taluks for the Greater Bengaluru Integrated Township project, projected as India’s “first AI-powered integrated township”.
The project is expected to cover a total of 7,481 acres across nine villages in the region, with more notifications expected in the coming days.
The second phase of notifications was issued on the same day Chief Minister D K Shivakumar assured farmers that their land would not be acquired forcibly for the proposed GBIT project and that those unwilling to part with their land were free to continue farming.
Asserting that the government would not compel any farmer to surrender land for the project, he said a committee would be formed to review it, and further decisions would be based on its recommendations.
Taking a dig at Shivakumar over the government’s move, JD(S) leader Nikhil Kumaraswamy posted on X, accusing the CM of staging a “scripted drama”.
He alleged that while Shivakumar was trying to reassure the public by announcing a review committee for the GBIT project, his administration had simultaneously issued the final notifications for more villages.
“You cannot fool our farmers with fake empathy and crocodile tears while sealing their fate through the backdoor. JD(S) stands firmly with our farmers. Stop this betrayal immediately,” he claimed.
The government has fixed the land price at Rs 2.30 crore per acre. The compensation package also includes additional payments based on the crops grown on the acquired land, sources said.
Farmer protests against the project have continued. On Monday, police registered criminal cases against a group of women after they allegedly chased Joint Measurement Committee survey officials in Mandalahalli while wielding brooms.
With another section holding demonstrations in support of the project, there have been instances of face-offs between pro- and anti-project farmers. PTI KSU SSK
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