Ex-PM Deve Gowda urges Karnataka govt to drop Bidadi project

Bengaluru, Jul 14 (PTI) Former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda on Tuesday urged the Karnataka government to abandon its proposed AI-powered Integrated Township project at Bidadi, saying the land acquisition would devastate the livelihoods of thousands of farmers. He also accused the Congress government of attempting to mobilise funds for the party through the project ahead of elections. Addressing a press conference here, the JD(S) patriarch appealed to the state government to permanently withdraw the proposal, asserting that adequate alternative land and vacant housing were available for urban development without acquiring fertile agricultural land. "Please don't move forward. I sincerely appeal to the government and honourable chief minister to put an end to this," Gowda said. Referring to the government's decision to temporarily suspend the land survey following protests, Gowda said the chief minister should display "magnanimity" and shelve the proposal altogether. "The government has taken a decision to stop the survey for the time being. Let the chief minister show his magnanimity. More than 40,000 sites are available in Bengalurue. Not only that, so many apartments are empty. Let them conduct a survey there," he said. Highlighting the dependence of villagers on agriculture and dairy farming, Gowda said many families owned only small parcels of ancestral land and had no alternative source of livelihood. "They can't come to Bengaluru to earn their livelihood. They are only dependent upon the land which belongs to their ancestors. They are supplying 60,000 litres of milk every day to Bengaluru," he said. The former prime minister also alleged that the township project was aimed at generating financial resources for the Congress to fight future elections and claimed Chief Minister D K Shivakumar was trying to fulfil a commitment made to the party leadership. "The CM has made a promise that he is going to stand by the high command to fight the election battle," Gowda alleged. Questioning the financial rationale behind the project, he said, "What is the purpose to go there (Bidadi)? You want to raise Rs 12,000 crore? Government guarantee -- What for? I don't want to go into detail today. I have got sufficient background." Responding to questions on whether the JD(S) would continue backing the agitation, Gowda unequivocally assured the protesting farmers of his support. "I'll be with you (farmers)," he said. Gowda said the JD(S), along with its NDA ally BJP, would continue opposing policies that harmed farmers. "We are with NDA and the BJP friends are extending their cooperation in the Bidadi issue and other issues. We'll continue to fight where this government takes wrong steps which are going to harm the farming people," he said. He also accused the state government of failing to adequately respond to crop losses caused by deficient and excess rainfall in the state, saying proper surveys should be conducted and factual reports submitted to the Centre to enable the release of relief funds to affected farmers. Farmers in the area have been protesting against the project. On Monday, when the government officers went to survey the area, broom-wielding women chased them away. A clash also ensued between farmers and government officers, in which a few policemen were injured. An FIR has also been registered against the agitators for obstructing government work. According to government sources, the township project involves the acquisition of 7,404 acres across nine villages in Ramanagara taluk. The project will follow the 2013 Land Acquisition Act, assuring fair compensation despite the farmer protests. The government will offer 9,693 sq ft of developed land per acre, or equivalent value, an officer said. PTI GMS KH