No forcible acquisition of land for Posco: Nirani

Minister for large and medium industries Murugesh Nirani has clarified that land for setting up Posco Steel Plant at Gadag district would not be acquired forcibly. Reacting to former minister H K Patil’s statement that congress would oppose setting up of Posco in Gadag district, Nirani said on Tuesday that there was no change in the government’s stand vis-à-vis land acquisition

Following reports that the department of Industry and Commerce had written to the Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB) to re-launch the process of land acquisition as some of farmers who owned the lands that were notified for acquisition have expressed their willingness to part with the land H K Patil had taken serious exception to any attempt to restart the acquisition process and has warned of agitation if the KIADB went ahead with land acquisition.

Strongly opposing the reconsideration of acquisition process Patil said it would be betrayal of former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa’s promise to farmers and seers of the region that the land would not be acquired for Posco. Patil said that the Posco plant would be hazardous to the environment of Kappatagudda which has herbal medicinal plants.

The government has decided to keep land ready in view of the Global Agri-Business Investment and Food Processing Meet 2011. Instead of Halligudi over 3,800 acres of lands in Petalur, Jantli-Shirur and Mevundi villages are proposed to be acquired. The state government which had decided to acquire over 7000 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 acquisition was supported by the congress and JD (S) besides social activist Medha Patkar. The farmers were divided on the issue of land acquisition. While there was general opposition for land acquisition, good numbers of farmers whose lands were actually notified for acquisition were ready to part with their land provided the government paid them higher compensation and also job to member of each family in the industry coming up on their land.