A section of farmers led by Belagavi District Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha president Basavaraj Malalli on Monday protested against the moves of Dalmia Cement Bharat Limited (DCBL) to acquire their fertile and irrigated agricultural lands to set up its greenfield cement plant in Yadwad village of Gokak taluk.
The farmers, who submitted a memorandum to the Regional Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner N. Jayaram here, said the company was in the process of acquiring their lands for industrial purposes in sharp contrast to the repeated assurances of both the Central government and State government that no fertile agricultural land would be acquired for industrial purposes.
They said after nearly three decades of struggle, the famers of Yadwad had been benefited by the Ghatapra irrigation project. They have been growing sugarcane, sunflower, wheat and other food grains and earning around Rs. 1lakh rupees from every acre of their farm lands.
They made it clear that none of the farmers had given their consent, either orally or in written, to the company for acquisition of their land, which was the only source of income. If they lose these lands, they would be temporarily benefitted but would be deprived of their principal avocation and source of livelihood, as they were not equipped with any other skill to earn a livelihood.
The farmers urged the Regional Commissioner to immediately intervene and direct the Department of Mines and Geology to prevent the company from acquiring their lands. They said they would be compelled to launch an agitation to protect their lands.
