Bangaluru: Farmers from Sarjapur hobli in Anekal taluk have received notifications from the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB) about plans to acquire their land for industrial development.
The government intends to develop SWIFT City (Startups, Workspaces, Innovation, Finance, and Technology), spanning 1,050 acres in Sarjapur. This futuristic hub will include offices, residences, and co-working spaces to support startups.
KC Devaraju, a farmer from B Hosahalli, shared his concerns: “We own three acres and 16 guntas of ancestral farmland, where we recently harvested ragi. Even now, we find water at a depth of 300 feet.” He and other farmers received notices in October, informing them that 400 acres in B Hosahalli would be acquired, without prior consultation.
Farmers in B Hosahalli send 10 truckloads of produce daily to KR Market and Madiwala in Bengaluru. Similarly, about 600 acres in Andenahalli are slated for acquisition, even though farmers grow ragi, vegetables, and flowers using borewell water.
Kiran Kumar, another farmer, expressed his unwillingness to part with his 2.5 acres, where he cultivates vegetables and roses. Farmers have protested thrice and are ready to challenge the acquisition legally.
Swaroop Reddy, joint secretary of the Bharatiya Kisan Sangha (Anekal), revealed that 700 farmers across eight villages received notices. He alleged that no surveys were conducted and rules against acquiring land within 100 meters of gram panchayat limits were ignored.
On January 4, 5,000 farmers will convene to oppose the acquisition. They demand a public hearing and plan a march from Attibele to Vidhana Soudha soon.
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