Updated On: 11 Aug 2026
BENGALURU: A delegation of farmers from areas surrounding Bidadi on Tuesday urged Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar to issue the final notification for land acquisition in Bairamangal and Kanchugaranahalli, saying they were ready to give their land for the proposed Bidadi Township if they were freed from the restrictions of the red zone.
The farmers met Shivakumar at Vidhana Soudha and explained the difficulties they had faced because of the red-zone restrictions. They demanded that the restrictions be removed and said they were ready to part with their land for the township project. “We are becoming victims of someone’s political game. We are ready to give our land. Give us compensation immediately,” they appealed.
They also said they had repeatedly approached former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy over the past several years without receiving a response and urged Shivakumar to resolve their problems.
Sunil, a farmer from Bairamangal, said the residents had suffered because of the red zone for nearly 20 years. Pollution from Vrishabhavathi sewage had made farming difficult, while coconut plantations that appeared green yielded little. He also alleged that even milk was contaminated. The red-zone restrictions had prevented construction of hospitals and marriage halls, while farmers faced difficulties obtaining bank loans against their land and were unable to sell it during emergencies or for family needs.
“We do not want money. We are ready to take developed land under the project and become stakeholders,” the farmers said. They claimed that many local residents supported the township project and alleged that those opposing it had been brought from other constituencies as political workers.
Senior citizen Yalakki Gowda, 80, said he had been associated with the JD(S) for 40 years and had repeatedly sought removal of the red zone for two decades. He alleged that Kumaraswamy had failed to act and said many families had suffered after losing land for as little as Rs 1 lakh. He expressed hope that the Shivakumar government would resolve the issue.
He also alleged that when Shivakumar invited Kumaraswamy to Vidhana Soudha for discussions, the former Chief Minister instead asked him to come to Bairamangal. He claimed there were fears of clashes between supporters and opponents and a possible police firing, following which farmers urged Shivakumar not to attend.
Young farmer Harish Reddy alleged that if Kumaraswamy had prioritised farmers’ interests, the red zone would never have been created. He said residents had repeatedly approached Kumaraswamy seeking its removal but were ignored. Referring to Kumaraswamy’s description of Bidadi Township as his “dream project”, he said it had now become a “curse” for local residents, while areas around Bengaluru had developed rapidly and Bidadi had remained behind.
CM assures final notification
Responding to the farmers, Shivakumar said hundreds of Bidadi farmers had met him seeking final notifications and expressing willingness to surrender their land in return for a combination of monetary and land compensation.
“I will discuss the matter with officials and issue final notifications for the remaining villages. We will acquire land from those who voluntarily agree to give it. Nobody will be forced,” he said.
On the farmers’ opposition to the padayatra, Shivakumar said only a few local farmers were present and alleged that people had been brought from Mandya, Mysuru and Tumakuru constituencies. “Let them conduct a padayatra every day. Let them walk as much as they want. I have told the police not to stop them,” he said.
Asked about BJP state president B.Y. Vijayendra’s remarks, Shivakumar said farmers were still demanding compensation and expressing willingness to surrender land. He questioned why Kumaraswamy had not protested when 1,000 acres were acquired during the BJP government and farmers received compensation of Rs 80-90 lakh. “Let this issue be discussed in the Assembly session,” he said.
