Move to transfer grazing land to Police Department opposed

Sanjay B. Patil, MLA, and others staging a protest in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s Office against the move to transfer grazing land to the Police Department in Belagavi on Monday.

Bharatiya Janata Party MLA from Belagavi Rural Sanjay B. Patil has strongly opposed the State government’s alleged move to transfer 51 acres 18 guntas of gairan (grazing) land under Badas (K.H.) in his constituency to the Police Department as it would directly deprive farmers of green fodder for their cattle.

Mr. Patil, who submitted a memorandum to Deputy Commissioner N. Jayaram after staging a protest here on Monday, said that there were 642 agriculture land-holding farmers in the village. And, 400 of these were marginal holdings and the rest small holdings of less than 5 acres of land.

These farmers, who have also taken up dairy activities to support their livelihood, largely depend on these grazing land for green and dry fodder.

He said that there were 617 bullocks and cows, 580 buffaloes, more than 500 sheep and goats.

The village also houses two units of Karnataka Milk Federation (Nandini) and two private milk procurement centres.

Mr. Patil said that taking away the grazing land would directly affect the supply of fodder for cattle and adversely impact income.

At a time when the government itself was struggling to provide green fodder to cattle owing to drought, the move to transfer 51 acres 18 guntas of gairan land has come as shock to the villagers who will now take up a fight to protect the land as it was a question of their survival and food for their cattle.

He urged the government to give up the idea of taking away land meant for farmers and their cattle.