A meeting between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, ministers Ishwar Khandre and Rahim Khan and members of the Karanja Dam Displaced Kisan Andolan Samiti is underway at Suvarna Soudha in Belagavi on Thursday. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangements
The provincial government has formed a technical committee comprising irrigation, revenue and finance experts to study the demand for higher compensation of the farmers’ families displaced by the Karanja irrigation project in Vidar district.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah made this announcement after a meeting of representatives of Karanja Displaced Kisan Andolan Samiti at Suvarna Soudha in Belagavi on Thursday.
“The committee has studied the problems of the victims who lost their land for the Karanja project in Vidar district and is fighting for proper compensation,” he said.
Minister Ishwar Khandre said that the government acquired the land in 1970 for the construction of Karanja Dam.
The goal was to provide irrigation facilities to 29,227 hectares of land in Bidar district. However, proper compensation has not been given to those who lost their land. They have lost their means of livelihood and are forced to work in the fields. The minister said that this problem, which has been pending for five decades, should be resolved.
Some people who have lost their land have filed a case in court and in one case, the court has ordered compensation of Rs 88,000 per acre. The minister said that a one-time compensation package should be announced for them.
Khandre recalled that the committee formed under the leadership of former Chief Minister N Dharam Singh had recommended a special rehabilitation package. But the state cabinet has rejected the recommendation of the committee headed by the additional chief secretary.
The Karnataka High Court in Chandrakant v. State of Karnataka said that the government should give equal compensation to all those whose land was acquired under a notification, he said.
Supreme Court Civil Appeal No. In 1943/2022, it has been mentioned that the judgment given in one case in a case of similar nature will be applicable to others also.
Khandre said that in the background of such a decision and in the interest of natural justice and equality, the state government should provide a lump sum compensation package to the displaced farmers of Karanja.
Minister Rahim Khan, MLA Shailendra Beldale, Prabhu Chavan, former minister Rajashekhar Patil and others were present.
Farmer leaders Laxman Dasti, RK Hudgi, Vinay Malge and others were present. All the leaders asked the Chief Minister to consider the demand on humanitarian grounds.
published – December 19, 2024 at 09:30 hrs IST