Karnataka: Farmers protest against Posco

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posted on 13 years ago — updated on 1 second ago

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HUBLI: Hundreds of farmers of Mundargi taluk held an agitation in front of Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB) off..

HUBLI: Hundreds of farmers of Mundargi taluk held an agitation in front of Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB) office near Dharwad on Monday, opposing the land acquisition for the proposed Posco India Ltd steel plant at Halligudi village of Gadag district.
The agitations were led by Mundargi taluk BhooSvadheena Virodhi Horata Samiti at the office for the entire day, urging the state government to withdraw the land acquisition process immediately. Also, the farmers submitted a memorandum to KIADB special land acquisition officer Mahantesh Beelagi and urged the officials not to misguide higher authorities and public representatives. Former minister MLC Basavaraj Horatti took part in the agitation and said that the state government should give up the idea of acquiring fertile land where farmers were making profits even without irrigation.

So, the government should withdraw the land acquisition process; otherwise the people of north Karnataka will join hands with the farmers to go against the government, he added.

Thousands of farmer families in the taluk are involved in agriculture and they have inherited fertile land from their ancestors. If they giveup their land, what should they do for a living? Desai questioned.

Abhivruddhi Vedike president of Mundargi taluk Y N Goudar said that the upcoming steel plant would affect Kappata hill which is rich in natural and medicinal plants. The government is stepping up to engulf major lakes in Mundargi taluk.

Writer Basavaraj Soolibhavi said that the project has been rejected in Orissa.