Karnataka CM DK Shivakumar assured farmers that their land would not be forcibly acquired for the Bidadi Township project and announced a committee review.
No land without farmers consent
Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has assured farmers that the state government will not forcibly acquire land for the proposed Bidadi Township. His statement followed protests over a land survey that farmers said was being conducted without their consent.
Shivakumar said landowners who do not want to surrender their property can continue farming, while those willing to participate may voluntarily hand over land and receive compensation. He stressed that not even a single gunta would be acquired against a farmer’s wishes, seeking to ease fears over displacement and the loss of agricultural livelihoods.
Committee to review Bidadi project
The Chief Minister announced that a committee would hear farmers’ objections, examine legal questions and review the project’s implementation. Its recommendations will be placed before the Karnataka Cabinet before any further decision is taken.
Shivakumar said farmers could meet him directly and explain their concerns. Calling himself the son of a farmer, he said he understood the anxiety surrounding land acquisition. He also clarified that Bidadi Township was not his personal dream project but an initiative carried forward from previous governments.
Previous approvals enter political debate
Responding to Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy and opposition parties, Shivakumar cited government records to argue that the township proposal originated under earlier administrations. He said a meeting chaired by Kumaraswamy as Chief Minister in 2006 approved five integrated townships around Bengaluru.
He added that the BS Yediyurappa government later pursued the project through a Public-Private Partnership model in 2010. Shivakumar also alleged that the area had earlier been placed in a Red Zone, limiting development without Bengaluru Development Authority approval. The Chief Minister accused political rivals of misleading farmers and creating confusion over the township proposal for political reasons.
BJP protest deepens Bidadi row
The BJP has announced a day-long protest at Freedom Park in Bengaluru on July 17, with party MLAs, MPs and former legislators expected to participate. The party is demanding the withdrawal of the township proposal and the cases filed against protesting farmers. Estimated at Rs 18,000 crore, the Bidadi Township has become a major political flashpoint involving the Congress, BJP and JD(S). The state government argues that the integrated township could reduce pressure on Bengaluru by creating new housing and infrastructure.
Opposition parties, however, say the plan may consume fertile farmland and threaten families dependent on agriculture for their income. The committee review and subsequent Cabinet decision will determine whether the project moves forward, is modified or faces further delay. For farmers, the key demand remains that development should not come at the cost of consent, agricultural land and long-term livelihood security.
