Farmers in north Bengaluru are rallying for an increased share of developed land in the upcoming Shivaram Karanth Layout. Their demand comes on the heels of the state government's recent decision to allot 50% of developed land to farmers in the proposed Bidadi integrated township. Currently, these farmers are eligible for only 40% of the area under a 60:40 ratio, a provision they now find inadequate and unfair.
Farmers Present Demands to BDA Commissioner
Representatives from farmers in 17 villages surrounding the Shivaram Karanth Layout recently met with Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) Commissioner P Manivannan to voice their concerns. Their primary demand is for an equal 50% share of the developed land, bringing them parity with the Bidadi policy. Furthermore, they raised strong objections to their exclusion from the allotment of prime commercial sites, corner plots, and properties along major roads measuring 100 feet, 80 feet, and 60 feet in width.
The Issue of Arbitrary Betterment Charges
A significant point of contention is the levy of betterment charges on approximately 5,000 properties that existed before the layout's development. Farmers argue that the charges are unscientifically calculated and show wild disparities from one village to the next.
M Ramesh, a farmer from Ramagondanahalli, highlighted the inconsistency, noting that rates range from Rs 42 to a staggering Rs 1,028 per square foot depending on the village, despite a uniform allotment rate across the entire layout. Ramesh's family gave up 39 guntas of land for the project.
Echoing this, Basavaraju from Somashettyhalli pointed out the irrational variation, where one village faces a charge of Rs 465 per sqft while the adjacent village pays as low as Rs 43. Vasanth Kumar from Veerasagara urged the BDA to treat this as a special case, citing the project's two-decade-long gestation period. He emphasized that while betterment charges are standard policy, they must be reasonable given the exceptional delays.
These charges, calculated based on the difference in guidance value before and after development, can translate to a financial burden ranging from nearly one lakh rupees to an overwhelming Rs 10 lakh for a standard 30x40 plot, depending on the village.
BDA's Response and Legal Context
In response, BDA Commissioner P Manivannan stated that matters concerning the Shivaram Karanth Layout are under the close watch of the High Court, and the issues of compensation were settled long ago. He drew a clear distinction between projects, explaining that the Bidadi township is a new initiative, whereas older projects like Shivaram Karanth Layout did not originally include a land component as compensation.
However, he assured that the BDA is working on a transparent and scientific allocation process for all affected farmers simultaneously. This new approach, guided by the deputy chief minister's directives, aims to ensure farmers receive their compensation easily and swiftly, moving away from the historically long-drawn and tedious procedures.
