Farmers oppose land acquisition for Army's firing range

Hundreds of farmers from villages around the city today staged a protest opposing acquisition of agricultural land for the firing range of Maratha Light Infantry Regimental Centre of the Indian Army.
The protesting farmers said the 368 acres of land proposed for acquisition from Mandoli, Savagao and Belgaum is fertile, where they reap three crops, and the move would affect their livelihood.
The farmers also submitted a memorandum to the district administration.
Earlier, the Army had procured 563 acres in this part and the district administration had started surveying their lands, said Manohar Kinekar, former legislator who along with MLA Sambhaji Patil (both from Maharashtra Ekikaran Samithi) and Sanjay Patil (BJP), is spearheading the protest.

Karnataka government has given land for the firing range to the Army at Ramdurg and Marihal, he said.
The memorandum appealed to the district administration to refrain from procurement of their fertile land.