The Karnataka government has issued a final notification for acquiring the remaining 1,895 acres of land in Bidadi, near Bengaluru, for the Greater Bengaluru Integrated Township (GBIT) project. This decision, announced amid ongoing farmer protests, completes the acquisition process for all nine revenue villages, totaling 7,343 acres.
The latest notification involves the Bairamangala and Kanchugaranahalli revenue villages, marking a significant step forward in the project. However, the project requires a total of 9,640 acres, with the remaining land owned by the government of Karnataka. The GBIT project, also known as the Bidadi Township Project, has faced resistance from local farmers, who have been protesting for over 550 days near Bairamangala Circle.
Prakash H. G., a farmer leading the protests, expressed frustration over the government's decision to proceed with land acquisition despite earlier promises to evaluate the project's merits and demerits. He highlighted that a committee was set up on July 14 to assess the project, and objections from the public were recently invited. Yet, the government moved forward with notifications before the committee's report was released.
“Even before its report is out, these notifications have been issued, ” Prakash remarked, accusing the government of breaking its promises. The farmers' dissatisfaction was further fueled by a recent incident where their attempt to block the highway at Bidadi ended in chaos due to police intervention.
Meanwhile, officials from the Greater Bengaluru Development Authority (GBDA), the agency responsible for implementing the project, stated that work on the township has not been halted. They confirmed that compensation is being distributed to farmers who are relinquishing their land. “We don’t have to stop work completely, ” an official noted, indicating that the project is moving forward despite the protests.
The GBIT project aims to transform the Bidadi area into a major urban hub, but it has been met with significant opposition from local communities concerned about the impact on their livelihoods. The farmers argue that the project disregards their interests and that the government has not adequately addressed their concerns.
As the situation unfolds, the tension between the government and the protesting farmers continues to escalate. The outcome of the committee's report and the government's response to it will likely play a crucial role in determining the future of the Bidadi Township Project.
