Karnataka: CM Keeps Rs 3 Crore Per Acre Offer
"no force on farmers to part with their lands”: Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar
BENGALURU: Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Sunday kept options before the farmers of either to accept Rs 3 crore or more per acre for parting with their lands or else farmers willing to part with their lands will be given 50 percent of developed area in the proposed Bidadi Greater Bengaluru Township project on 7,481 acres in villages of Bidadi and Harohalli of Bengaluru South district to set Artificial Intelligence city. However, Chief Minister stated ‘no force on farmers to part with their lands.”
In a recorded video message on his social media handle, Shivakumar stated that his government is committed to go ahead with the pending project which was initiated by Union Minister of Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy in 2006-07 when he was the Chief Minister.
Then, he said, the Janata Dal Secular and Bharatiya Janata Party alliance government in Karnataka fixed Rs 25 lakh an acre but “Our government is committed to implement the project and will pay compensation of Rs 3 crore or more per acre for land losers.” He made it clear the Red Zone tag to lands spread across Bidadi and Harohalli will stay.
According to Shivakumar, the proposed Bidadi Township project will give a new dimension to Bengaluru South district to which he belongs. Shivakumar represents Kanakapura Assembly seat in Bengaluru South district. He explained the features at the proposed Bidadi Township project will have better roads, Metro train connectivity, stadium, residential complexes, garden among others.
“The Artificial Intelligence city at Bidadi will help generate employment opportunities for youths as well as improve the quality of farmers lives,” the Chief Minister said and appealed to farmers to join hands with the State Government if they are willing to take part in the development.
Criticising the statement of Chief Minister, State president of Janata Dal Secular and Union Minister of Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy questioned the rationale of Shivakumar asking him “Why bargain?”