Mandya (Karnataka), Jun 14 (PTI) Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Sunday attacked Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar over the proposed GBIT near Bidadi in Bengaluru South district, alleging that the state government was working in the interests of the real-estate sector and against farmers.
Addressing reporters in Mandya, Kumaraswamy alleged that the Congress government was forcibly acquiring fertile agricultural land for the township project and claimed that farmers were being intimidated despite widespread opposition to the plan.
The Greater Bengaluru Integrated Township is seen among CM Shivakumar’s ambitious project – projected as India’s first AI-powered integrated township. The project is expected to cover about 7,481 acres across nine villages in the region, according to official sources.
The union minister for Steel and Heavy Industries said, “Shivakumar is a real-estate baron. How did ancestral property of just three acres become assets worth Rs 1,400 crore? Shouldn’t he explain that?” He questioned the growth in Shivakumar’s assets.
“He (CM) should tell the people of the state how such wealth can be accumulated and how one can become rich so quickly. It will be very useful for the people as well,” Kumaraswamy said.
Alleging collusion between the government and private interests, he said the Bidadi township proposal was a real-estate project of the government and accused the administration of attempting to take over farmers’ land despite resistance from local residents.
“The Congress government itself has set out to loot people’s land. The CM has directly joined hands with real-estate mafia bosses to run this business,” he alleged.
Kumaraswamy claimed that a majority of farmers were unwilling to part with their land and that authorities were using police machinery to pressure them.
He also rejected claims that the project had the backing of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying large industrial and township projects in Gujarat were developed on dry and non-irrigable land rather than fertile agricultural land.
The former chief minister further drew parallels with the Bengaluru-Mysuru Infrastructure Corridor project, alleging that large-scale land acquisition had taken place over the years in the name of infrastructure and township development.
He said there was ample dry and non-irrigable land available elsewhere in Karnataka for such projects and questioned the rationale behind acquiring fertile farmland near Bidadi.
“Every month, farmers from this region supply six lakh litres of milk to Bengaluru Dairy. What achievement will come from building a township on such land,” Kumaraswamy asked.
He also alleged that the government was seeking a loan of Rs 12,000 crore from HUDCO in the name of acquiring farmers’ land.
The union minister claimed that farmers had not received any compensation so far. According to him, the proposed township would eventually benefit private real-estate developers under a public-private partnership model, with the government acting as a “real-estate agent”. PTI GMS KH
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