Bidadi township row: Kumaraswamy to meet 'those who will be affected by project'
He also asked CM Shivakumar to visit the location with officials at the same time to discuss the issue and find a solution
Bengaluru, Jun 25 (PTI) Union minister H D Kumaraswamy on Thursday wrote to Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, informing him about his June 27 visit to Byramangala near Bidadi in Bengaluru South district to hear "the grievances of those who will be affected by the proposed GBIT project", and the land acquisition for it.
He also asked Shivakumar to visit the location with officials at the same time to discuss the issue and find a solution.
The Union minister also enclosed his programme for June 27 with his letter to the CM.
Shivakumar on Monday invited Kumaraswamy to his office at Vidhana Soudha on June 26 for a discussion on the issue.
However, in his response, citing prior commitments, Kumaraswamy wrote back on Monday and sought to reschedule the meeting to June 27. He had also proposed organising the discussion at a suitable venue in Bidadi or Byramangala instead of Vidhana Soudha, aiming to allow affected farmers and villagers to participate.
Meanwhile, reacting to Kumaraswamy's letter, Shivakumar told reporters on Tuesday, "Let's not discuss it now. I will get back to you on the matter." "I would like to draw your attention to the letter you wrote to me on June 22 and to the reply that I sent on the same day. I hope that you have taken note of my letter dated June 22, and I am awaiting your response to this letter," Kumaraswamy said in his letter to Shivakumar on Thursday.
He, however, said he will visit Byramangala village on June 27 to hear the grievances and concerns of the farmers, agricultural labourers, women farmers engaged in dairy farming, small entrepreneurs, and villagers likely to be affected by the proposed Greater Bengaluru Integrated Project at Bidadi.
"Therefore, I believe that if you also visit Byramangala village on June 27 along with the concerned officials of the Greater Bengaluru Authority, both of us can personally listen to the hardships of the affected people and explore alternative solutions on the spot," he added.
Despite opposition from sections of farmers and villagers, a final notification was recently issued for the acquisition of 499 acres across three villages in Ramanagara and Harohalli taluks for the Greater Bengaluru Integrated Township, one of Shivakumar's ambitious projects, projected as India's "first AI-powered integrated township".
The project is expected to cover a total of 7,481 acres across nine villages in the region, sources said, adding that the notification issued recently is likely the first in a series of land acquisition notifications expected in the coming days.
According to reports, the Greater Bengaluru Development Authority (GBDA) has floated a Rs 26-crore tender to appoint a consultant for preparing the master plan, detailed project report (DPR) and providing project management services for the proposed GBIT.
The government, amid protests, has started giving compensation to farmers who agreed to part with their land for the project. Sources said the first set of cheques was handed over to seven farmers from Kempaiahanapalya village recently.
The government has fixed the land price at Rs 2.30 crore per acre. The payout also includes extra money depending on the types of crops growing on the land, sources added. PTI