Hubballi: Sharanappa Kamatar, 46, a farmer from Lakkundi, has been running from office to office for years as the state archaeology department and the Gadag district administration continue to pass the buck over compensation for an excavation carried out on his land in 2003.
Kamatar told TOI that his grandfather, Virupakshappa, was orally assured Rs 1.2 lakh as compensation for one year's crop loss. "As my grandfather and father, Pampanna, had faith in then Mundaragi MLA SS Patil and minister HK Patil, they gave one acre for excavation. Officials had assured us that the excavation would last only a year and that the land would be returned. However, the excavation continued for two years, and we cooperated in the interest of Lakkundi's heritage. We ran from pillar to post and finally received Rs 1.2 lakh as crop-loss compensation in 2010. However, the land, which is now filled with pits up to seven feet deep, rocks, bushes and babul trees standing 6 to 7ft tall, has still not been returned. The govt has neither sanctioned full compensation nor cleaned the land," he said.
"We cooperated in the interest of Lakkundi's heritage. In 2010, we finally received Rs 1.2 lakh for crop loss, but the land was never returned," Kamatar said, adding that the plot remains unusable, filled with deep pits, rocks and overgrown vegetation. He further said, "Our elders earlier grew jasmine, chrysanthemum and coconut on this irrigated land, which yielded four crops a year. The revenue department assessed our crop loss and sanctioned compensation accordingly. However, when we demanded compensation for the subsequent years, an officer even offered his gold chain as security against the government's compensation. Both the Patils had assured us of their support, but they are now expressing helplessness. We have become victims of emotional and sentimental blackmail," he lamented.
Copies of official correspondence with Kamatar show that both the district administration and the state department of archaeology, museums and heritage have acknowledged the issue, while shifting responsibility to each other. Following his experience, other farmers are now hesitant to cooperate with development-related projects, he said.
District administration sources confirmed that the excavation was completed by Dec 2005 after a temple basement was discovered near the fort wall, following which work was halted.
Advocate VR Govindgoudar said the govt must either release full compensation or return the land in usable condition. He suggested compensation of Rs 1.2 lakh with a 5% annual increase for 23 years, along with the farmer's rightful share of any valuables found, as per the Karnataka Treasure Trove Act, 1962.
District minister HK Patil was unavailable for comment. His staff said the issue would be brought to his notice if the farmer approached the office.
