By Chetan B.c

Copyright thehindu

It is now the farmers’ turn to propose a compensation mechanism for land acquisition for the long-delayed Peripheral Ring Road (PRR), now rebranded as the Bengaluru Business Corridor (BBC).

Leaders of the farmers’ group are planning to suggest either shifting the proposed BBC stretch by 10–15 km or denotifying the existing lands and issuing a fresh notification fixing the acquisition price based on the 2025 market value. If neither of these options are accepted, they want the project to be dropped altogether.

In addition, Srinivas Mavallipura, president of the association of farmers affected by the BBC, told The Hindu that several more farmers are prepared to move the court against the project if the government fails to fix an acceptable compensation mechanism.

“There have been lapses in the entire planning of this project, which has not affected the government in the slightest but has deeply affected farmers. Many families have lost members who fought for their land, and now the second generation is fighting. All of them deserve justice,” Mr. Mavallipura said.

He said the farmers will demand that the government bear the economic losses caused by the project, notified in 2005, and has not progressed an inch since then. They further plan to demand government jobs for family members of those critically affected.

Gautam Chandra Jain, vice-president of the group, said these proposals would be placed before the government in an upcoming meeting with the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister.

Mr. Jain added that if the government is determined to push the project forward, the compensation must be fair to farmers, who have been unable to use their lands for the past two decades and have suffered severe economic distress.

“If budget is an issue for the BDA, then let them shift the proposed project 10–15 km outward from the current alignment, where land values are in line with the compensation amount the government is ready to pay,” he said.

He alleged that the government is unlikely to do this because many influential persons and politicians have purchased land parcels near the currently notified stretch. “If the project is shifted elsewhere, the projected rise in market value for these nearby lands will collapse,” he claimed.

BDA’s stance

BDA officials, including Chairman N.A. Haris, Commissioner P. Manivannan, and BBC chairperson L.K. Atheeq, chaired a meeting with affected farmers and proposed a new compensation framework.

The BDA proposed four options for the compensation package: Floor Area Ratio (FAR) for the acquired land, Transferable Development Rights (TDR) corresponding to market value, land-to-land compensation (the usual BDA method), and compensation under the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 (market value of 2005).

Farmers demand denotification

Although the government has agreed to compensation as per the 2013 Act, farmers insist on denotification of the land and the issue of a fresh notification. Their reason is simple: the 2025 guidance value will be five to eight times higher than the 2005 value. While the government is offering only two to three times the 2005 guidance value, the farmers are unwilling to accept it.

Mr. Mavallipura said the farmers do not trust the BDA, which has repeatedly failed to keep its promises.

“When BMRCL, BMRDA, and even the Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) have adopted the 2013 compensation model, it is unclear why the BDA is still clinging to the outdated 1894 British-era Act,” he said.

He further raised a question about the land-use plan. The BDA proposes that in the 100-m-wide corridor, an eight-lane road will be built, along with service roads on both sides, totalling 65m, including a 5-m median. The remaining 35m, divided on either side, would be developed into commercial spaces, which would then be offered to farmers.

“Why are they acquiring 100m of land for a 65-m road? Why do they want to develop the sides into commercial spaces? Let them acquire only the land actually required,” he said.