Land acquisition comes back to haunt farmers again

Farmers in Gadag district who succeeded in making the government revisit its decision to acquire land for housing South Korea’s Posco Steel Company, are now facing the prospect of their land being acquired for setting up agro-based industries.

The government has decided to keep land ready in view of the Global Agri-Business Investment and Food Processing Meet 2011. This time, instead of Halligudi, over 3,800 acres in Petalur, Jantli-Shirur and Mevundi villages are proposed to be acquired. However, so far no industry has come forward to set up units in the district.

The state government, which had decided to acquire over 7,000 acres of land in Halligudi village of Mundargi taluk of Gadag district had to reverse its decision following stiff opposition from the farmers led by religious leaders of the region. The farmers’ stir against the acquisition was supported by Congress and Janata Dal(S) besides social activist Medha Patkar.

The farmers were divided on the issue of land acquisition. While there was general opposition for land acquisition, a number of farmers whose lands were actually notified for acquisition were ready to part with their land provided the government paid them higher compensation and job to the member of each family in the industry coming up on their land.

The youngsters in the family were keen on giving up the land as they were eying a huge sum of money. Meanwhile, the seers who opposed the land acquisition for Posco now seem to have mellowed down as they say they have no objection if eco-friendly, agro-based industries were to come up in the region.

According to additional secretary, department of agriculture G K Vasanth Kumar, the government has identified land for agro-based firms and food processing units and asked the district officials to collate farmers’ opinion.

However, some farmers are sceptical about the government’s move. They express doubt that the government would acquire the land by giving false promise and then go ahead with its plan to set up any industry of its choice.

The farmers have been promised Rs 10 lakh per acre as compensation. Around 100 farmers, whose land has been identified for the project, met in Jantli-Shirur village and decided to oppose the acquisition.