Bhargavi Kerur, Daily News & Analysis (DNA)

Bangalore, June 30, 2007:About 21,000 farmers of Nandagudi hobli, a cluster of 36 villages in Karnataka, are gearing up to fight the government and realtors to save their land from being taken under a special economic zone (SEZ) project.

Earlier this month, the Karnataka Cabinet had approved a private multi-project SEZ on 12,350 acres of land at Nandagudi hobli, 40 km from the tech city and close to the proposed Bangalore International Airport. Within a year of the approval, land prices in the hobli shot up to Rs 60 lakh from Rs 2 lakh.

Under this SEZ project, the land is being acquired by a private infrastructure company that is promoting the SEZ. But many farmers are resisting the overtures either because they are not being given the right price or because they believe that retaining the land for farming was a better alternative.

With a population of 50,000, Nandagudi hobli is a hub of sericulture and dairy activities with sales worth over Rs 10 lakh every day. Its proximity to the proposed international airport, had increased land prices even before the SEZ was announced.

“Price of land may be shooting up to Rs 60 lakh, but what’s the guarantee that we will get jobs in the SEZ. More than 40,000 villagers are illiterate. We will have no future if we sell our land,” said SS Lakhsmish, convener of the Farmers’ Agitation Committee.

The farmers are meeting local politicians next week to discuss the issue. “Depending on the support from politicians we will make further plans,” said Lakhsmish.

“If the government is not willing to go back on its decision, it will witness another Nandigram in Karnataka,” said N Devegowda, a farmer and member of the farmers’ committee, who owns five acres of land. “We are willing to shed our blood to save our land,” added Devegowda.
“The airport is near, so the realtors are coming in with their own game plan. They want a share in our land because prices will shoot up further,” said Lakshmish

To escape the wrath of villagers and the Opposition parties, the state government has washed its hands off the matter.

Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy said the onus was on the promoters to persuade farmers to sell their lands. “The government has no role in fixing the land prices. It is between the farmers and the buyers,” said Kumaraswamy.