Bengaluru, June 17 (IANS) Senior Congress MLA H.C. Balakrishna on Tuesday accused Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Janata Dal (Secular) (JD-S) leaders of opposing the proposed Bidadi Township project near Bengaluru, not out of concern for farmers but to politically target Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar.

Speaking to reporters near a resort in Bidadi, Balakrishna said the land acquisition process had begun during the tenure of former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and that some farmers had opposed it even then. He questioned why leaders such as Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy and Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka had not supported the protesting farmers at that time.

“Opposition leaders are now protesting against the project only because they cannot tolerate D.K. Shivakumar becoming Chief Minister,” he alleged.

Balakrishna further claimed that BJP and JD-S leaders from the Vokkaliga community were uncomfortable with Shivakumar becoming Chief Minister. He said many opposition leaders had believed Siddaramaiah would never hand over power and that Shivakumar would never get an opportunity to lead the state.

Referring to the BJP leaders’ visit to villages near Bidadi, Balakrishna recalled that when then Industries Minister Jagadish Shettar under the BJP government proposed acquiring 1,000 acres through the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB), he had demanded that the entire area be acquired rather than leaving the remaining land under red-zone restrictions.

He also claimed that B.Y. Vijayendra had earlier assured local representatives that the government would secure better compensation for farmers and had discussed plans to bring aeronautical industries to the region.

Accusing the BJP of opportunistic politics, Balakrishna said the party could have scrapped the project when it was in power if it had genuine concerns about farmers. “Had BJP acted then, farmers would not have been forced into agitation today,” he said.

He maintained that the township proposal was not initiated by the current Congress government. According to him, the project originated during Kumaraswamy’s tenure and was later revived after farmers sought either the removal of red-zone restrictions or compensation.

Balakrishna said that, besides the 1,000 acres earmarked for the township, another 1,000 acres had already been acquired, with compensation ranging from Rs 90 lakh to Rs 1 crore per acre. He alleged that some JD-S leaders who are now opposing the project had themselves accepted compensation at the time.

Responding to concerns that fertile agricultural land was being acquired, he argued that much of Bidadi had already witnessed extensive real-estate development and that red-zone restrictions had actually prevented further conversion of farmland.

Addressing criticism that the township would mainly benefit investors, Balakrishna questioned why BJP leaders had not raised such concerns when they were in power. He also criticised R. Ashoka for not taking up the issue in the legislature despite requests from farmers.

Balakrishna said that while some farmers oppose the project, many others are demanding its speedy implementation so they can receive compensation. He asserted that the majority of affected farmers had agreed to part with their land and that the government would continue efforts to convince the remaining landowners.

Defending the compensation package, he said the government had increased the valuation from Rs 1.5 crore to Rs 2.5 crore per acre and was offering compensation well above the legally mandated level. Farmers who are dissatisfied with cash compensation, he added, could opt to receive 50 per cent of the developed land instead. According to him, nearly 80 per cent of affected landowners prefer land allotment over monetary compensation.

–IANS

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