Social activist Medha Patkar has extended her support to the farmers opposing land acquisition in Karnataka’s Gadag district, where Korean company Posco proposes to set up a steel plant.
“My suggestion to the farmers is to continue their fight against the land acquisition through non-violent means,” she told reporters on Friday, adding that she was ready to join them. “We want Posco to move out of Orissa and not come to Karnataka.”
However, she said there was no need for her to lead the agitation against the Karnataka government.
“Iron ore is a national treasure and there is no need for any foreign company to come and exploit it. Why should our governments beg the multinational companies to come and invest here? They can do on their own,” Patkar said after visiting the agricultural fields in Halligudi village.
Even though a large number of farmers are willing to sell their land for higher compensation, several organisations, political parties and heads of religious mutts in the state have come forward to support the agitating farmers.
The Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB) has notified 3,382 acres at Halligudi in Mundaragi taluk of Gadag district for setting up of 6-million tonne per annum integrated steel plant and a 450-Mw captive power plant by Posco. Of the 532 farmers, who were issued notices, 203 farmers have filed objections for acquiring their land.
Encouraged by the support extended by pontiff of Tontadarya Mutt Siddalinga Swamiji, the farmers of these villages are gearing up to launch a united fight against the land acquisition. Around 4,000 farmers of Halligudi, Jantli, Shirur and Mevundi villages in Mundaragi taluk have planned to stage a bullock cart rally from their villages on July 11 and hold a dharna in front of the deputy commissioner’s office in Gadag on July 12.
“We are against the government acquiring our fertile land for industrial use. We have made our stand clear to the government. If they don’t listen to our demands, we will intensify our stir at various platforms till the government drops the plan to acquire our land,” said Laxman Desai and Prabhu Honagannavar, farmer leaders from Shirur.
H K Patil, former minister and a prominent Congress leader in this part of the state and H D Deve Gowda, former prime minister and JD(S) national president have also expressed their support to farmers’ agitation.
"Their vehicle was stopped by locals, mostly women, as it entered Balishai under Nuagaon panchayat for demarcation of the project boundary through Global Positioning system without accompaniment of police personnel and all the five occupants, including the four IDCO officials and one liaison officer of Posco were held captive," said the police sources.
The detained officials were identified as B.K. Bhuyian, Kamalakant Das, Bishnu Pal, Alok Bag of IDCO and Basant Das of Posco.
Meanwhile, noted journalist cum Magsaysay Award winner Palagummi Sainath expressed his solidarity with the anti-Posco villagers who have been staging dharna at Gobindpur protesting forcible land acquisition for the Posco project. Sainath, during his two day stay at Gobindpur, interacted with local villagers.
Despite agitation, the administration continued with felling of trees, measurement of earth structure and identification of betel vine labourers in Noliashai village under Gadakujang panchayat with the cooperation of villagers.
Similarly, the construction of boundary wall and rehabilitation colony, which was halted yesterday due to heavy rain, has resumed at Polang village of Gadakujang. Twelve teams have been pressed by the district administration to carry on these jobs.
Special Land Acquisition Officer, Nrusingh Swain said, nearly 2700 trees were cut down at Noliashai and compensation Rs 1.66 lakh disbursed to Sanghai village forest committee.
The Karnataka government has notified 3,382 acres in Halligudi where Posco proposes to set up a 6-million-tonne-per-annum integrated steel plant and a 450-Mw captive power plant.
Patkar also had a brief discussion with C C Patil, minister for women and family welfare and in-charge minister of Gadag district. During the meeting, Patil assured her that the government would not acquire farm land by using force.
Patil also told her that the government would take all measures to protect the ecosystem of Kappathgudda in Gadag district, a rich source for medicinal plants. He said the government would not acquire land forcefully and also provide a good compensation to the land losers.
About 90 farmers submitted their consent letters to the special land acquisition officer of the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board in Dharwad. With this, the number of farmers willing to part with their land has gone up to 142 in the last four days.
Initially, 262 out of 532 farmers had filed their objections for the land acquisition.
