Farmers organised protests on 1 September against the recent notices, alleging a “conspiracy” and accusing the government of going back on its word.
Published Sep 08, 2025 | 2:19 PM ⚊ Updated Sep 08, 2025 | 2:19 PM
The earlier decision to drop the acquisition plan came after a 1,198-day agitation by farmers
Synopsis: Weeks after the Karnataka government scrapped a plan to acquire 1,777 acres of farmland in Bengaluru Rural district for a proposed aerospace park following prolonged farmers’ protests, landowners in two villages have received fresh intimation of plans to acquire 439 acres. Farmer leaders have alleged a “conspiracy” and accused the government of going back on its word, while demanding the swift de-notification of the land under the original proposal.
Nearly two months after the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government in Karnataka dropped the proposed acquisition of 1,777 acres of farmland in Devanahalli, Bengaluru Rural district, for a high-tech defence and aerospace park, landowners have received fresh intimation of plans to acquire 439 acres.
A land rate fixation meeting was called on 6 September for this extent of land in Hyadala and Gokarebachenahallu villages, but was postponed following protests by farmer-led bodies in Channarayapatna.
The development comes despite the Chief Minister earlier stating that the government would proceed only with purchases from willing farmers, while also assuring compensation above the guidance value and developed plots in return.
However, farmers organised protests on 1 September against the recent notices, alleging a “conspiracy” and accusing the government of going back on its word.
The earlier decision to drop the acquisition plan came after a 1,198-day agitation by farmers organised under the banner of the ‘KIADB Land Acquisition Resistance Struggle Committee of Channarayapatna’.
It was seen as a major victory for farmers in the area, who depend on agriculture and farmlands for their livelihood.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had also acknowledged the scale of the protest, calling it one of the most “significant and historic” struggles against land acquisition in recent memory in Karnataka.
But days later, on 20 August, the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB) issued notices to farmers in two villages in Devanahalli, asking them to attend a price fixation meeting on 6 September at Sri Aurobindo Bhavan in Bengaluru.
Although the state assured that only farmers willing to part with their land would receive notices, farmer leaders claim many who had not given consent were also summoned.
“Some farmers allege that their consent letters have been falsified. They do not want to part with their land which falls under the 439 acres that is currently in conflict,” Ramesh Cheemachanahalli, a local farmer leader, told South First.
One farmer, Cheemachanahalli said, had to file a complaint after discovering that a letter of consent was submitted on his behalf without prior intimation.
“The government must first de-notify all lands that were under threat of acquisition,” Ramesh demanded.
Although the government has announced the withdrawal of the 1,777-acre acquisition, it has yet to issue a formal order to begin the de-notification process.
This delay has angered farmers, who fear their lands may still be under threat, especially after confusion over the latest notices.
Several farmers staged a protest on 1 September at the KIADB Chief Executive Officer’s office at Khanija Bhavan and the Special Land Acquisition Officer’s office at Aravinda Bhavan, demanding immediate withdrawal of the notices.
In response, the rate fixation meeting has been postponed. An official notification from the KIADB cited “administrative reasons.”
“The acquisition notification was only for a part of the aerospace project. Only farmers who had given consent received notices. But after seeing the opposition, the matter has been elevated to the Chief Minister,” Suraj AR, Special Land Acquisition Officer at KIADB, told South First.
Farmers in Channarayapatna meanwhile plan to continue their protest until their lands are de-notified and a written order is issued.
“The KIADB is directly contradicting the Chief Minister’s official statement and misleading the people of Karnataka. Our farmers will not agree to this. Only after the de-notification process is complete can any further steps be taken. Our fight will continue until de-notification is finalised,” said Cheemachanahalli.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
