Land-losers from Veni Veerapur and Janekunte villages in Ballari taluk have decided to urge Rahul Gandhi, Congress vice-president, during his visit to Ranebennur in Haveri district on Saturday, to direct the Siddaramaiah government to release compensation for their land acquired for setting up a steel plant by the National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC).
Addressing presspersons here on Friday, Mahes Agiwal, along with other land-losers including T. Venkateshappa, Anjinappa, and Honnurappa, said that around 2,750 acres of land owned by around 500 farmers from these two villages had been acquired for the steel plant through Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board. In turn, NMDC credited Rs. 650 crore for the payment of compensation. But, only 150 land-losers had been given compensation and the rest had been left out.
Enquiries with the board revealed that the State government had released only Rs. 250 crore as the government had reportedly diverted the available funds for implementing its populous schemes, they said.
“It is over 2,400 days since after our land was acquired and we have been forced to run from pillar to post to get our compensation. Meanwhile, the 150 land-losers who were given compensation were from comparatively well-to-do families. They are politically powerful and some of them are engaged in real estate business. Those who were in need of money had been ignored, which is unfortunate,” they said.
“We want to meet Mr. Gandhi and draw his attention as to how the farmers were undergoing harassment under the Congress rule. We will also urge him to direct the Chief Minister to arrange for the release of the compensation amount and ensure that the dues of the land-losers are settled,” Mr. Venkateshappa said.
Only 150 out of 500 land-losers had been given compensation and the rest had been left out
