Bengaluru: Farmers in Bengaluru have collectively decided not to cooperate with the Bengaluru Development Authority (BDA) regarding land acquisition for the Peripheral Ring Road (PRR) project, now rebranded as the Bengaluru Business Corridor (BBC). They argue that their concerns about compensation and livelihood have been ignored, and they demand adherence to the Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 (LARR).
Jagadish Reddy, a landowner affected by the project, stated, “We have collectively decided not to cooperate with land acquisition officers until a fair, transparent, and farmer-friendly approach is adopted.” Gopal Reddy, another farmer from Sulikunte village near Sarjapur, expressed frustration that none of their demands were addressed after a recent meeting with the BDA. He emphasized that the BDA cannot proceed based on the outdated Land Acquisition Act of 1894.
The BDA has offered four compensation options: cash payment (three times the guidance value in rural and twice in urban areas), Transferable Development Rights (TDR), enhanced Floor Area Ratio (FAR) benefits, and land-to-land compensation. Despite these offers, landowners remain unsatisfied, and the BDA has pledged to escalate their concerns to higher authorities for resolution.
The farmers’ refusal to cooperate has led to heightened tensions, with some threatening to intensify their protests if their demands are not met. The BDA’s efforts to address landowners’ concerns have so far been unsuccessful, and the project remains stalled due to ongoing disagreements over land acquisition and compensation.