Bengaluru's Land Crunch: Urban Farming and Farmland Conservation Clash with Industrial Growth
The rapid rise of urban farming initiatives and campaigns to conserve agricultural land in Bengaluru is sparking significant concerns over land availability for industrialisation. Officials are now warning of a growing crunch for large-scale infrastructure and renewable energy projects, describing it as a "developing land bank crisis" that threatens Karnataka's economic expansion.
Acquisition Challenges and Land Bank Pressures
Between April 2023 and March 2024, the Karnataka government successfully acquired over 24,000 acres of land in and around Bengaluru. However, officials report that subsequent acquisition efforts have faced mounting difficulties. The convergence of educated urban buyers purchasing agricultural properties and activist movements seeking to protect farmland has created what industry insiders characterize as a perfect storm for land availability.
While some stakeholders argue this trend primarily affects small land parcels, others contend it's beginning to impact projects requiring large contiguous tracts of irrigated or barren land. A senior industry department official revealed that maintaining viable land banks is becoming increasingly challenging due to higher compensation demands, particularly for cultivable land under floriculture and horticulture, and because of fragmented land parcels that need exclusion from development plans.
Renewable Energy Projects Face Particular Hurdles
The situation appears especially concerning for solar energy initiatives, according to Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Ltd (KREDL) staff. "Some owners are abroad and are holding on to agricultural land for posterity," a KREDL official explained. "In Pavagada, we have owners who are in the UK and US, and they have no intention of parting with their land."
Alarmingly, officials estimate that at least 40% of existing solar parks have ownership vested with NRIs and the urban wealthy. Despite Karnataka's high potential for solar and wind power generation, projects are facing unprecedented constraints due to land availability issues. As a result, KREDL is now exploring smaller parks and more compact renewable energy generation units as alternatives to traditional large-scale developments.
Planning Stage Interventions and Policy Changes
Some officials maintain that acquisition challenges are being proactively addressed during the planning phase. "Even before we notify, certain aspects are considered including fully grown trees, land activity and other environmental issues," said S Selvakumar, additional chief secretary (industries). "While there are concerns over some bits and pieces, KIADB and industries department has been able to keep track what parcels are being acquired."
Officials also pointed to resistance from sections that supported farmer protests as another challenge for large-scale projects, citing protests in the proposed ITIR region in Devanahalli last year. A minister commented on this dynamic: "These romanticised versions of protecting fields will only hurt farmers. In fact, when the govt declared it a special agriculture zone, sections of the same farmers were ready to part with their land for the ITIR. We decided not to proceed with it and asked them to keep their land."
Legal Framework Shifts and Future Implications
The landscape changed significantly after the Karnataka Land Reforms Act was amended in 2020, allowing non-agriculturists to legally purchase agricultural land for the first time. This amendment repealed previous restrictions that limited buyers to those with farming backgrounds. Now, individuals regardless of non-agricultural income can purchase farmland, though conversion for residential or commercial use still requires separate, mandatory approvals.
This policy shift has contributed to the current scenario where urban professionals and investors are acquiring agricultural properties, further complicating land acquisition for industrial purposes. The tension between conservation efforts, urban farming movements, and industrial development needs represents a complex challenge that will require innovative solutions as Bengaluru continues its growth trajectory.
