Former PM Deve Gowda urges Siddaramaiah to halt Bidadi Township land acquisition

Indian Express

24-04-2025

Former Prime Minister and Rajya Sabha MP H D Deve Gowda has urged Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to halt the land acquisition process for the ambitious Bidadi Integrated Township Project, spearheaded by the Greater Bengaluru Development Authority (GBDA).
In a letter addressed to the Chief Minister Wednesday, Gowda highlighted the potential environmental damage and severe impact on the livelihoods of thousands of small and marginal farmers in Ramanagara district, where the project is set to acquire over 7,000 acres of agricultural land.
In his letter, the JD(S) supremo stated, 'As you are aware, Ramanagara district, located near Bangalore, has already seen significant land acquisition for industrial development, with industrial zones established in Ramanagara and Kanakapura taluks. Additionally, private industries have proliferated in the region. The remaining agricultural land supports farmers who rely on dairying, sericulture, horticulture, and agriculture for their livelihoods.'
'Most of these farmers are small or marginal landholders from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Their fields are also home to millions of trees, vital for environmental sustainability. Acquiring this land for a township project would severely harm the environment and jeopardise the livelihoods of thousands of families, potentially leaving many young people from farming communities unemployed.'
He added, 'Furthermore, the Karnataka Housing Board and other government bodies have already developed multiple housing projects in the Bidadi area by acquiring farmers' land. In light of this, I urge the state government to reconsider and withdraw the current land acquisition process for the township project to protect the interests of these vulnerable farmers.'
The Bidadi Township Project, also known as the Greater Bengaluru Integrated Township (GBIT), is a flagship initiative under the Bengaluru Metropolitan Region Development Authority (BMRDA). According to a preliminary notification issued on March 12, the GBDA plans to acquire 7,293.44 acres across nine villages in Ramanagara and Harohalli taluks of Ramanagara district, with an estimated project cost of Rs 13,000 crore.
The township aims to create a modern 'work-live-play' ecosystem, featuring residential zones, industrial parks, commercial hubs, green spaces, and even an international cricket stadium. The project spans 8,935 acres, including 2,742 acres of economic corridors and buffer zones, totalling approximately 12,844 acres.
The GBDA, formerly the Bidadi Smart City Planning Authority, has secured a Rs 21,000-crore loan offer from HUDCO to fund the project, with funds to be drawn as needed. The authority has proposed a compensation model offering a 60:40 ratio of cash and developed land, with a one-year deadline for monetary compensation and three years for providing developed land.
The project is expected to involve minimal rehabilitation, as most of the 27 habitations in the area will remain unaffected, though some residents have requested relocation to areas with better infrastructure.
The Karnataka government has also expanded the GBDA's jurisdiction by 92 square kilometres, incorporating 22 additional villages to regulate growth around the proposed township, just outside Bengaluru.
Ramanagara, the home district of Deputy Chief Minister and Bengaluru Development Minister D K Shivakumar, is a focal point for this development and is also being considered for Bengaluru's second airport.
The affected areas in question include villages under Byramangala and Kanchugaranahalli Gram Panchayats in Bidadi Hobli. They are home to small and marginal farmers from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
These farmers have cultivated millions of trees around their fields, contributing to environmental sustainability. The farmers fear that acquiring this land could devastate their local ecosystem and render thousands of farming families jobless, particularly impacting the youth.
Farmers in Bidadi Hobli and nearby villages have also formed a protest committee to oppose the project, citing the loss of fertile agricultural land and the threat to their way of life. Previous land acquisitions in Ramanagara and Kanakapura taluks for industrial zones, as well as housing projects by the Karnataka Housing Board, have already reduced the available farmland in the district, which is adjacent to Bengaluru and hosts numerous private industries.
The Karnataka government views the Bidadi Township as a crucial step in decongesting Bengaluru and promoting planned urban development. Approved by the state cabinet on January 30 this year, the project aims to transform Bidadi into a satellite township with robust infrastructure. The government has also declared 1,490.65 acres in Bidadi as a Special Investment Region ahead of the Global Investors Meet in February 2025, signalling its intent to attract industrial and economic growth.