460 days of persistent protests to save farmland

As many as 1,777 acres are set for acquisition for the Haralur Industrial Area Development Project (Phase II) by the Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB). The Board had developed an industrial area spread over 1,282 acres in Phase 1 where, so far, two companies have set up production units. The notified land includes irrigated land, apart from rain-fed land.

It is a simmering summer afternoon in April. A group of farmers are sitting under a temporary shelter at Channarayapatna in Devanahalli taluk, on the outskirts of Bengaluru. Rain or shine, this group from 13 villages has been on an indefinite dharna (protest) to safeguard their agricultural land, which is set for acquisition for an industrial project. The farmers are resisting the acquisition. The dharna commenced on April 4, 2022, and has now completed 460 days.

The Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB) is set to acquire 1,777 acres for the Haralur Industrial Area Development Project (Phase II). In Phase 1, the board developed an industrial area spread over 1,282 acres, where two companies have set up production units. The preliminary notification for the acquisition was issued on August 30, 2021. The final notification is yet to be issued.

The villages where land has been notified for acquisition are Palya, Haraluru, Polanahalli, Gokare Bacchenahalli, Nallur, Mallepura, Nallappanahalli, Cheemachanahalli, Mattabaralu, Muddenahalli, Channarayapatna, S. Tellohalli and Hyadala. About 700 farmers’ families will be affected by this project. Up to 475 acres are owned by farmers belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. Agriculture has created employment for about 6,000 labourers in the area.

Though farmers have been protesting for over two years, the issue came back into prominence when they decided to boycott the Lok Sabha elections on April 26 in 14 constituencies in south Karnataka. Several politicians, including Ministers and candidates, tried to meet the farmers to cajole them to cast their votes. Following promises of resolving the problem, the farmers eventually cast their votes but have continued their protest. They plan to continue until their demand is met.

For Ramesh Cheemachanahalli, sitting at the dharna site, the protest is now a routine part of his life that otherwise revolves around agriculture. Like him, every day, at least 35 farmers sit at Channarayapatna under a tent. On certain days, more than 500 gather at the site. For instance, when Rakesh Tikait of the Bharatiya Kisan Union visited them on September 6, 2023, more than 1,000 farmers turned up at the protest site.

“Our family has been living in Cheemachanahalli for several generations. For us, land is an emotional issue. The KIADB has notified 7 acres of land of our family for acquisition. We grow grapes, ragi, avarekai (beans) and manage fodder for cattle. Parting with the land simply means the end of cultivation. For nearly 1,292.1 acres, land-owners have filed an objection against acquisition pointing out that the land is part of a thick agriculture belt that yields food and horticultural crops, and is used for dairy farming,” said Ramesh.

“I have been eating food grown on our land, and the family considers the land as our mother. For people here, losing land is no less than losing their mother,” he said. The notified land includes irrigated land, apart from rain-fed land. “During elections, politicians speak of working for the interests of farmers. After the polls, they disregard their promises. We are not anti-development. The government can acquire barren land elsewhere for the project,” he added.