Citizens’ Research Collective on SEZ

SEZ: Protests warn of Nandigram at Nandagudi
Johnson T A, The Indian Express

Bangalore, June 18, 2007: A Karnataka government decision to convert a proposed township project at Nandagudi, located 55 km from Bangalore, into an SEZ has resulted in threats of Nandigram-like protests from farmer groups and the CPI(ML).

On June 15, the H D Kumaraswamy Cabinet approved creation of a 12,350-acre, multi-product SEZ at Nandagudi, near the new international airport in Bangalore rural district, by SKIL Infrastructure Ltd, also promoters of two SEZs in Mumbai.

The Cabinet approval came despite objections raised by some ministers and bureaucrats over water shortage in the area and reluctance of farmers to part with their land due to the high price already being commanded around the international airport. According to market estimates, the value of land in Nandagudi is already between Rs 40-50 lakh per acre.

Following the Cabinet decision, the CPI(ML) at a special convention of SEZs held on Sunday said it would not allow the Nandagudi SEZ to come up.

State president of the CPI (ML) R Manasaiah in a statement said his party would join farmers in their fight to prevent acquisition of their land. “We will mobilise villagers around Nandagudi and tell them about the hardships they would have to face if the SEZ came up,” he said.

Even if the private promoter acquires land at market prices, farmers will have to deal with brokers who will make profits on the sale to private developers, he argued. “This is worse than the Government acquiring land,” Manasaiah said.

The convenor of a local farmers’ rights group in Nandagudi, S S Lakshmish, said the farmers want to continue to hold possession of their lands. “We want to continue as farmers, we will not give land away for an SEZ,” he said.

Recently, for an upcoming 9,684-acre, Rs 50,000 crore township project in Bidadi, also in Bangalore rural district, but in Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy’s constituency, the Government fixed a “unique” compensation package of Rs 20 lakh to Rs 25 lakh per acre of agricultural land or 8,000 sq feet of developed land in return for every acre acquired.

In the Nandagudi case the Chief Minister has stated that the promoters will have to convince the farmers and buy the land.

Nandagudi was originally identified as the site for a township project on the lines of the project in the Chief Minister’s constituency, but the plans were changed recently.

Under government order No. 97 of the Urban Development Department, issued following a September 2006 meeting presided over by Kumaraswamy, Nandagudi was to be one of five townships created around Bangalore “to preserve and improve the quality of life for the citizens within the Bangalore Metropolitan Area (BMA) and to cater to the needs of a rapidly increasing population”.

The land originally identified for the township project at Nandagudi Hobli in Hosakote Taluk was 18,507 acres, including 13,762 acres of private land and 4,745 acres of government land.

Nandagudi was selected on the basis of several factors, according to the government, including least displacement of human habitation, least disturbance to forests and water bodies, least acquisition of valuable agricultural lands, low cost of land, reasonable distance from existing developed locations and good connectivity.