Bengaluru: Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar recently said that not a single piece of farmland would be acquired forcibly for the proposed Bidadi Township project, and that owners who did not wish to part with their land were free to continue farming.
Addressing a press conference at Vidhana Soudha, the Chief Minister presented official records on the history of the project and said the government would not compel any farmer to surrender land.
“Those who do not wish to give their land can continue farming. Those who are willing may voluntarily hand over their land to the government and receive compensation. But not even a single gunta of land will be acquired by force,” Shivakumar said.
Announcing a committee to review the project, the Chief Minister said it would examine the implementation of the Bidadi Township and seek feedback on its merits and concerns.
He also assured that the status of land belonging to farmers who did not wish to part with it would not be changed. The committee’s report will form the basis for the government’s next decision, which will be placed before the Cabinet.
Expressing concern over recent violence during a land survey in Bidadi, Shivakumar said the incident had caused him distress.
He alleged that officials were attacked due to political instigation and accused some people of misleading farmers.
The Chief Minister clarified that the Bidadi Township was not his ‘dream project’ and said he had never claimed ownership of the idea or even laid its foundation stone.
“This is not my dream project. I have never called it my dream project, nor do I wish to be remembered as its architect. I am only carrying forward a project initiated by previous governments,” he said.
Describing himself as the ‘son of a farmer’, Shivakumar said he understood the hardships faced by cultivators and would never support any move that harmed their interests.
Taking on Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, the Chief Minister said the township proposal had originated during Kumaraswamy’s tenure as Chief Minister.
Presenting official records, Shivakumar said that on September 23, 2006, a meeting chaired by then Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy approved the development of five integrated townships around Bengaluru.
He said the government later decided to invite global tenders under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model for the project.
He further said that in 2007, additional villages, including Marandahalli and Odeyarahalli, were included in the proposed township. A gazette notification issued on November 20, 2006, had declared the project area a ‘Red Zone’, prohibiting development without prior approval from the Bengaluru Development Authority (BDA), he added.
Shivakumar also alleged that the previous government had issued orders identifying compensation for properties, including houses in village settlements, and had permitted a private developer to participate in the project after collecting a security deposit of Rs 400 crore.
“Our government has not taken away the livelihood of farmers or farmer families. There is absolutely no compulsion. We are only continuing a project initiated during the tenures of H.D. Kumaraswamy and B.S. Yediyurappa,” he claimed.
Industries Minister M.B. Patil, MLA Balakrishna, Political Adviser G.C. Chandrashekar and other leaders were present at the press conference.
