Shivakumar And Kumaraswamy Trade Charges Over Controversial Bidadi Township Land Plan

A political dispute over the proposed Bidadi Township project intensified on Sunday as Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy exchanged sharp remarks over land acquisition, farmer compensation and the future of industrial development in the state. The renewed war of words has brought fresh attention to a long-running controversy involving the acquisition of agricultural land for the ambitious township project near Bengaluru.

Speaking after a Cabinet meeting at Vidhana Soudha, Shivakumar accused Kumaraswamy of misleading farmers and changing his stance on a project that was originally conceived during his tenure as chief minister. The Congress leader argued that the current state government was merely continuing a proposal initiated under Kumaraswamy and subsequently carried forward by successive administrations, including the BJP government led by former Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa.

Shivakumar maintained that the government had improved the compensation package for affected landowners. According to him, while the original proposal envisaged allocating 40 per cent of developed land to farmers, the current administration has increased that share to 50 per cent. He also said the process of disbursing compensation at the rate of Rs 2.5 crore per acre had commenced and asserted that a large majority of landowners had voluntarily agreed to participate in the project. The chief minister rejected demands to de-notify the acquired land, arguing that industrial growth and urban expansion inevitably require land acquisition.

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Questioning Kumaraswamy's opposition, Shivakumar asked why the former chief minister had initially notified the land and designated the area as a development zone if he fundamentally disagreed with the project. He further claimed that nearly 80 per cent of affected landowners had consented to the acquisition process and said the government would proceed strictly within the framework of the law while safeguarding the interests of farmers.

Kumaraswamy, however, defended his position and insisted that he had consistently opposed the acquisition of fertile agricultural land for the township. The Union minister said his views were well documented during his tenure as chief minister and argued that development should not come at the cost of productive farmland. He noted that the Bidadi Township proposal was part of a broader plan to establish five townships across Karnataka and said he would soon release documents detailing his stance on the issue.

The Janata Dal (Secular) leader also questioned the long-term benefits of the compensation package being offered to farmers. He argued that agricultural land would appreciate significantly over time and could generate greater wealth than a one-time payout. According to Kumaraswamy, landowners stand to gain more by retaining their properties rather than accepting compensation. The disagreement highlights the broader challenge facing policymakers as they attempt to balance infrastructure development, industrial expansion and the protection of agricultural livelihoods in rapidly urbanising regions of Karnataka.

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