Land acquisition for Hubli airport hits roadblock
Staff Correspondent - The Hindu
No consensus at meetings held with farmers and plot owners
Farmers demand Rs. 1.14 crore an acre as against proposed compensation of Rs. 13.36 lakh an acre
Plot owners demand Rs. 1,000 a sq. ft. as against proposed compensation of Rs. 500 a sq. ft
Making a point: Farmers arguing with officials during a meeting in Dharwad on Monday.
DHARWAD: Two meetings held here on Monday to come up with a consent award for land acquisition for the expansion of the Hubli airport ended without consensus.
Both meetings were chaired by Deputy Commissioner Darpan Jain in the presence of land acquisition officer Mohanraju and other KIADB officials.
The first meeting was with owners of agricultural land and the second was with people owning plots in localities around the airport.
Merger
In the first meeting, the farmers argued that the proposed compensation of Rs. 13.36 lakh an acre was meagre compared to the present market value of land in the area.
President of the Karnataka Rajya Pakshateeta Raitha Horata Samiti B.M. Hanasi, convener Rajashekhar Mensinakai, farmers Hanumantappa Unakal, Fakirappa Avaradi and others demanded that going by the market value, compensation of Rs. 1.14 crore an acre should be fixed. They said that unless that amount was given they would not give up their land for the airport.
The former president of Karnataka Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Hubli, Madan Desai; Shejwadkar; Balu Magajikondi; and others who participated in the meeting felt that the proposed compensation was too little. They said that they had fought for an international airport to be established at Hubli, but that did not mean that farmers should be given a raw deal.
In the second meeting, the plot owners demanded a compensation of Rs. 1,000 a sq. ft, whereas the district administration had proposed Rs. 500 a sq. ft.
The Deputy Commissioner told the plot owners that an increase of up to 15 per cent was possible on the proposed rate. However, they rejected it.
Mr. Jain told The Hindu that he would forward the proceedings of both meetings to the State Government for a decision.
On Tuesday, three meetings are scheduled on the same issue with industrialists, owners of commercial establishments and houses on land identified for acquisition.
