Karnataka CM announces review of AI township project as farmer protests grows

Bengaluru: Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Wednesday announced a committee to review the proposed AI township near Bidadi following mounting protests by farmers against the acquisition of land for the project.

The move comes amid JD(S) patriarch HD Deve Gowda's warning that he would join the agitation if the government failed to withdraw the project. Estimated to cost over Rs 18,200 crore, the proposed township requires about 7,481 acres spread across nine villages in Ramanagara and Harohalli in the CM’s home district of Bengaluru South.

Shivakumar, addressing a press conference, said the government would not forcibly acquire land from any farmer and that those unwilling to part with their holdings could continue cultivation.


"Those who are willing may voluntarily hand over their land to the government and receive compensation. But not even a single gunta of land will be acquired by force," he said.

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The CM said the committee would examine the implementation of the township project, assess its merits and concerns, and seek feedback from stakeholders. The status of land belonging to farmers unwilling to participate would remain unchanged, he said, adding that the committee's recommendations would be placed before the Cabinet for a final decision.

Expressing concern over the violence during a land survey at Bidadi on Monday, Shivakumar said the incident had caused him distress. He alleged that government officials were attacked following political instigation, in an apparent reference to the JD(S).

Seeking to distance himself from the project, Shivakumar said it was not his "dream project" and that he neither claimed ownership of the proposal nor wished to be remembered as its architect.

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"I am only carrying forward a project initiated by previous governments," he said, adding that the township proposal had originated during Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy's tenure as chief minister.