Devanahalli: Landlords became farm labourers after losing their lands to projects

The Hindu

3 days ago

Jagadish, a farmer from Polanahalli of Devanahalli taluk, never faced any major financial issues, though his undivided large family had just 3.5 acres. He was an enterprising and hardworking farmer who cultivated multiple crops, including vegetables and flowers on his fertile land besides rearing cows and sheep. Proximity to Bengaluru market too ensured remunerative prices for his crops.
He was excited when the government set in motion the acquisition of 2 acres of his land for an Aerospace Park, as the offer was ₹1.10 crore per acre as compensation, against the then prevailing rate of ₹60 to ₹70 lakh per acre. He got the compensation amount sometime in 2018.
But now, seven years later, he is a financially devastated man. From the earlier social status of being a landlord, he has been reduced to working as a farm labourer along with his wife to take care of his family.
'I finally got a pittance as the list of legal heirs to the family property grew, and I also had to pay bribes to the tune of 20%-25% to get the compensation. The prices around my land that was acquired by the government, have touched ₹8 crore per acre now. Forget buying farm land, I cannot even afford to buy a residential plot in my village now,' lamented Mr. Jagadish. The Hindu met him during the media visit organised by the protesting farmers' group to the villages in Channarayapatna hobli of Devanahalli taluk, where land is proposed to be acquired for the second phase of the Aerospace Park.
Second blow
Now the government is set to acquire the remaining 1.5 acres of Mr. Jagadish's land. But strongly resisting this, he declared, 'I would rather die than give up land again. This is not just land, but our livelihood and family's future.'
Mr. Jagadish's story is not unique but that of many farmers who lost their lands earlier in these areas. Given the precedent of how land losers have suffered, other farmers in 13 villages of Channarayapatna hobli, where lands to the tune of 1,777 acres are set to be acquired in the second phase of the project, have decided against parting with their land.
Ramesh Cheemachanahalli, whose land too is set to be acquired and who is one of the activists who played a key role in organising land losing farmers to stage a marathon protest since April 4, 2022, said, 'Unlike other areas in the State, Devanahalli has not just got fertile lands and conducive weather, but also good agri market access, with several private companies buying farmers' produce directly from the farm. Taking away these lands is nothing but taking away the livelihoods and lives of farmers.'
He says lands from about 650 families are set to be acquired.
Endorsing his views, young farmer Pramod of Polanahalli says his joint family earns a net profit of about ₹12 lakh a year from six acres where it grows grapes, vegetables, and flowers, besides taking up animal husbandry. Pointing towards his house, tractor, and van being used to transport flowers to the market, he wonders whether he can continue to have a similar lifestyle if his lands are taken away.
His fellow villager Veeranna, a former secretary of local milk producers' co-operative society of KMF, says the milk production in the village had already reduced by nearly 50% from the earlier 600 litres a day after huge parcels of lands were acquired for the project in the first phase.
Choose judiciously
The farmers in these villages collectively declare that they would not part with their lands even if the government increases compensation. 'The government should judiciously choose suitable land for acquisition for industrial purpose instead of picking fertile lands like ours,' they say.
These farmers are anxiously waiting to know the outcome of the State Cabinet meeting on Wednesday and the meeting with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday to decide their future course of action.