It is a simmering summer afternoon in April. A group of farmers are sitting under a temporary shelter at Channarayapatna in Devanahalli taluk, on the outskirts of Bengaluru. Rain or shine, this group from 13 villages has been on an indefinite dharna (protest) to safeguard their agricultural land, which is set for acquisition for an industrial project. The farmers are resisting the acquisition. The dharna commenced on April 4, 2022, and has now completed 460 days.
The Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB) is set to acquire 1,777 acres for the Haralur Industrial Area Development Project (Phase II). In Phase 1, the board developed an industrial area spread over 1,282 acres, where two companies have set up production units. The preliminary notification for the acquisition was issued on August 30, 2021. The final notification is yet to be issued.
The villages where land has been notified for acquisition are Palya, Haraluru, Polanahalli, Gokare Bacchenahalli, Nallur, Mallepura, Nallappanahalli, Cheemachanahalli, Mattabaralu, Muddenahalli, Channarayapatna, S. Tellohalli and Hyadala. About 700 farmers’ families will be affected by this project. Up to 475 acres are owned by farmers belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. Agriculture has created employment for about 6,000 labourers in the area.
