Ready for debate, 80% farmers OK with Bidadi township project: Karnataka deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar

BENGALURU: Days after former Prime Minister and JD(S) supremo HD Deve Gowda hurled allegations of "land mafia" over the proposed Rs 18,000-crore Bidadi township project, deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar Wednesday challenged him and his son, Union minister HD Kumaraswamy, to an open debate in three days.

"Kumaraswamy wanted a debate (on the Bidadi township project). Let him decide time and place. Gowda may join in, too," the deputy CM said, claiming nearly 80% of farmers have given consent to the project at Bidadi, an industrial enclave 30km from Bengaluru.

Village-wise final notifications for land acquisition will be issued in three days. The govt is set to hand out compensation from early June, he said.

The project, approved by the state cabinet on April 30, proposes to acquire 7,481 acres across nine villages in Ramanagara taluk of Bengaluru South district. Kumaraswamy has accused the govt of turning the township into an "official real estate business" and demanded an immediate halt to land acquisition.

Both Shivakumar and Kumaraswamy are from Ramanagara district and wield huge influence on farmers.

Kanakapura MLA Shivakumar, who holds Bengaluru development portfolio, told reporters after meeting a section of farmers that the township proposal had originally been notified during Kumaraswamy's tenure as CM. "This is not something I initiated. The project had been given to DLF, which walked out saying it was not viable," he said.

Farmers said the township plans have been languishing since 2006. "The land had been red-zoned so there is no buying or selling," said Alasandra Srinivas, a farmer from Bidadi. "Finally, there is a headway in compensation: more than Rs 2 crore per acre," he said.

H Rajanna, farmer leader and taluk panchayat member from Bidadi who participated in the meeting with Shivakumar, confirmed that compensation has been fixed up to Rs 2.5 crore per acre. Besides, Cauvery water will be provided to the area, he added.

The deputy CM urged Kumaraswamy, who handles the steel portfolio in the Union govt, to instead focus on reducing steel and cement prices instead of criticising the township project.

The Congress leader said farmers had been advised against immediate sale of land, arguing prices will see a sharp rise once the project takes off. "I explained to them that since we are giving compensation to farmers, they should not rush to sell their land because they do not yet understand the future value of this area," he said.

According to Shivakumar, the township will be linked through a 40km network from Kanakapura Road, Bengaluru-Mysuru Road and NICE Road, apart from integration with Satellite Town Ring Road.