K'taka farmers want more from land sales to Arcelor

NEW DELHI: Amid protests by farmers in Bellary for increased compensation, the Karnataka government on Wednesday offered jobs along with Rs 8-16 lakh per acre to be used for the Rs 30,000-crore ArcelorMittal steel project.

Agitating farmers are demanding a compensation of Rs 50-60 lakh per acre, besides the offer of one job per family in the project, senior state officials said over the phone.

At Rs 8-16 lakh per acre, the farmers were to get a compensation of Rs 350 crore for about 4,000 acres, which according to the officials has already been acquired.

“About 500 farmers staged protests against the prices fixed by us for land acquired for ArcelorMittal’s project. They are demanding Rs 50-60 lakh an acre against Rs 8 lakh - Rs 16 lakh an acre fixed by us,” Bellary deputy commissioner B Shivappa said.

On Wednesday evening, state principal secretary, industries, VP Baligar held a meeting with a farmers’ delegation in Bangalore to iron out the issue.