Land acquisition: Forum in Karnataka pushes for inclusive model, farmer development approach rather than revenue generation for business

As mega projects that drive land acquisition continue to displace farming and rural communities across Karnataka, writers, academicians, farmers, cultural activists, and industrialists converged in Bengaluru on August 20 to debate the issue.

Among the key issues debated at the event, titled ‘The way forward’, by the Karnataka Forum of Public Intellectuals and Cultural Voices were the government’s attempts to dilute the Land Acquisition Act, 2013, by weakening the provisions for prior consent and fair compensation, the displacement caused by power plants, highways, airports, and industrial corridors.

“These add to the consequent threat to agriculture, rural economies, and food security in Karnataka,” explained Prakash Kammardi, former president of Karnataka Agricultural Price Commission.

D.T. Venkatesh, a small-scale industrialist with businesses primarily based out of Peenya in Bengaluru, said, “Development should be an eco-friendly partnership with its owners. There is no constructive purpose to the land taken by the government if they’re not fairly compensated. While land is acquired citing the industrial needs, only 10% of the assets are ultimately utilised,” he said.

“Numerous petitions are being filed on a day-to-day basis. While promises are being made at the end of every protest, the outcome is silence,” said Suresh Reddy, a farmer representative from Anekal.

With multiple voices across the board, from residents losing their share of assets due to a flyover proposal, to activists fighting on behalf of their entire village, arguments continued on the possible relief and steps that the authorities should take to create a balance between the two sectors that define the country’s GDP.

After a day-long deliberation, Pratap Hegde, moderator of both panels, concluded the convention with negotiations and plausible approaches that compensate the demands of both sides. “This is a fight for the future. Along with suitable stakeholdership, the farmers have to be provided with methodologies like discounted cash flow in their negotiations, an audit before acquisition, and also a GDP-based farmer development approach rather than development based on revenue generation for the business alone,” he said.

Bringing inclusivity is the key, the conference concluded, with a call for meaningful dialogue between farmers, policymakers, and industrial representatives to seek common ground on development without dispossession.