Follow us:WhatsappFacebookTwitterTelegram.cls-1{fill:#4d4d4d;}.cls-2{fill:#fff;}Google NewsVillagers of Veniveerapura and Janikunte, around 15 km from here, fear losing their land to the National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) which is planning to set up a steel plant. The Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB) had issued a notice in February to around 600 farmers of Veniveerapura and Janikunte regarding the acquisition of 2,850 acres for the NMDC to establish its steel plant. “As agriculture is my only source of income, I dug two borewells in my ancestral land to cultivate crops. My children had also agreed to help me in farming,” said Honurappa, one of the farmers from Janikunte village. However, the notice of acquisition has made the future of his family uncertain, he lamented. Honurappa said that he had dropped the idea of cultivating vegetables and has started animal husbandry owing to fear of losing the land anytime. “Even if they provide compensation, it will be a meagre amount and will not be sufficient to purchase agricultural land in other village because land prices are skyrocketing,” he rued. Another farmer, Mahesh Agiwal of Veniveerapura alleged that even today some companies in Bellary acquiring around 2,000 acres a few years ago. The villagers strongly objected to the government’s move of acquiring agricultural land in the name of industrial development causing hardship to the farmers. They suggested that the required land be allocated to the NMDC from around 5,000 acres acquired for the Arcelor- Mittal steel company in Kuditini and Haraganadoni villages. They quoted a letter written to the KIADB by ArcelMittal stating that their requirement for setting up the proposed steel plant is only 2,800 acres. Another mega steel plant proposed by former minister G Janardhan Reddy and his brothers has been shunted. But the Reddys are said to have sold the government land given to them to set up the Brahmini Steels. The matter is a part of the CBI investigation which is probing into the alleged irregularities in mining by Janardhan Reddy who is in the jail since the last one year. The government had acquired 4,761 acres in Bellary taluk for Brahmini steels. “If the factory is set up in the (Veniveerapura) village by forcibly acquiring our land, we will have no other alternative than leaving the village. It will be impossible to live here amid pollution from the factory,” said Mahesh. Even if they provide jobs for villagers in the factory, it would be low profile jobs like drivers and watchmen, he stressed. The legal battle of the villagers against the land acquisition would continue, Mahesh stressed and added that Dharwad High Court Circuit Bench had ordered the KIADB not to issue a final notification on land acquisition. The High Court order has given a ray of hope for farmers over their future, Mahesh said. first published:August 27, 2012, 11:40 ISTlast updated:August 27, 2012, 11:40 IST
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Villagers of Veniveerapura and Janikunte, around 15 km from here, fear losing their land to the National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) which is planning to set up a steel plant. The Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB) had issued a notice in February to around 600 farmers of Veniveerapura and Janikunte regarding the acquisition of 2,850 acres for the NMDC to establish its steel plant. “As agriculture is my only source of income, I dug two borewells in my ancestral land to cultivate crops. My children had also agreed to help me in farming,” said Honurappa, one of the farmers from Janikunte village. However, the notice of acquisition has made the future of his family uncertain, he lamented. Honurappa said that he had dropped the idea of cultivating vegetables and has started animal husbandry owing to fear of losing the land anytime. “Even if they provide compensation, it will be a meagre amount and will not be sufficient to purchase agricultural land in other village because land prices are skyrocketing,” he rued. Another farmer, Mahesh Agiwal of Veniveerapura alleged that even today some companies in Bellary acquiring around 2,000 acres a few years ago. The villagers strongly objected to the government’s move of acquiring agricultural land in the name of industrial development causing hardship to the farmers. They suggested that the required land be allocated to the NMDC from around 5,000 acres acquired for the Arcelor- Mittal steel company in Kuditini and Haraganadoni villages. They quoted a letter written to the KIADB by ArcelMittal stating that their requirement for setting up the proposed steel plant is only 2,800 acres. Another mega steel plant proposed by former minister G Janardhan Reddy and his brothers has been shunted. But the Reddys are said to have sold the government land given to them to set up the Brahmini Steels. The matter is a part of the CBI investigation which is probing into the alleged irregularities in mining by Janardhan Reddy who is in the jail since the last one year. The government had acquired 4,761 acres in Bellary taluk for Brahmini steels. “If the factory is set up in the (Veniveerapura) village by forcibly acquiring our land, we will have no other alternative than leaving the village. It will be impossible to live here amid pollution from the factory,” said Mahesh. Even if they provide jobs for villagers in the factory, it would be low profile jobs like drivers and watchmen, he stressed. The legal battle of the villagers against the land acquisition would continue, Mahesh stressed and added that Dharwad High Court Circuit Bench had ordered the KIADB not to issue a final notification on land acquisition. The High Court order has given a ray of hope for farmers over their future, Mahesh said.
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