Karnataka
,
Bhuvanahalli, Sankenahalli, Lakshmisagara, Thendihalli, Davalapura and G Milanahalli
,
Hassan
Published :
Sep 2018
|
Updated :
Farmers Demand Employment, Higher Compensation in Exchange of Land for Hassan Airport in Karnataka
Reported by
Elizabeth Mani
Legal Review by
Anmol Gupta
Edited by
Anupa Kujur
Households affected
250
People affected
2007
Year started
298
Land area affected
Households affected
250
People Affected
2007
Year started
298
Land area affected
Key Insights
Sector
Infrastructure
Reason/Cause of conflict
Airport
Conflict Status
Ongoing
Ended
Legal Status
Region Classification
Urban and Rural
Ended
Sector
Infrastructure
Reason/Cause of conflict
Airport
Conflict Status
Ongoing
Ended
Legal Status
Region Classification
Urban and Rural
Ended
1
Summary

Farmers and land owners in Bhuvanahalli and six other villages in Tumkur district have opposed the price quoted by the district administration as compensation for the Hassan airport project, which is a joint venture between the Government of Karnataka and Jupiter Aviation Private Limited on a Build Own Operate Transfer (BOOT) model. The project was first mooted by the Central Public Works Department in 1960, with a land notification being issued in 1969, but there was no progress. It was later revived in 20062007 by former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda in the interest of the region's farming sector. The district authorities had acquired 536 acres of land across the seven villages of Bhuvanahalli, Sankenahalli, Lakshmisagara, Thendihalli, Davalapura and G Milanahalli on the outskirts of the city in 2007 and handed it over to Jupiter Aviation.  The Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB) needs additional 200 acres for the project. KIADB claims that 254 acres of land in four parcels have already been notified for the airport project over 12 years. At a meeting between the farmers and the district administration on July 17, 2018, the farmers said they would give up their land for the airport only if the airport authorities provide employment to the local people and pay INR 2 crore per acre as compensation. The district officials, however, offered them a maximum compensation of INR 32 lakh per acre. The farmers claimed that some qualified youths from the village wanted to apply for jobs at the airport but were denied entry by the airport authority. When LCW approached Special Land Acquisition Officer Arun Kumar for comments on the issue, he said he would not be able to share any information since he is not the concerned officer anymore. LCW then tried to contact another Special Land Acquisition Officer, Suresh Kumar, who said he had recently joined the post and was not aware of the issue. In March 2021, it was reported that the work on the airport could potentially begin within a year as the hurdles in the longstanding project were in the process of being cleared. Additional Chief Secretary Kapil Mohan visited the land in Boovanahalli village acquired for the airport and stated, "At present, we are concentrating on clearing the hurdles. At least 23 kilometres of the radius of the airport should be clear for flight operations. The power supply lines are being shifted. In June 2021, the Karnataka Cabinet formally approved the construction of the domestic airport at a revised investment of INR 194 crore.

2
Fact Sheet

Demand/Contention of the Affected Community

Demand for more compensation than promised

Demand for employment

Other Demand/Contention of the Affected Community

Region Classification

Urban and Rural

Type of Land

Private

Non-Forest (Other than Grazing Land)

What was the action taken by the police?

How many people did the police detain or arrest?

What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?

Did the person face any violence while in police custody?

If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?

If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?

Legislation under which the accused was charged

Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?

In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?

Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?

Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?

Details of sources (names of accused, names and numbers of any lawyers, names of any police officers contacted)

Status of Project

Original Project Deadline

Whether the Project has been Delayed

Significance of Land to Land Owners/Users

Whether the project was stalled due to land conflict

Source/Reference

Total investment involved (in Crores):

193.65

Type of investment:

Revised Investment

Year of Estimation

Page Number In Investment Document:

Has the Conflict Ended?

No

When did it end?

Why did the conflict end?

4
Additional Information

Government Departments Involved in the Conflict:

Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board

PSUs Involved in the Conflict:

Did LCW Approach Government Authorities for Comments?

Yes

Name, Designation and Comment of the Government Authorities Approached

Corporate Parties Involved in the Conflict:

Did LCW Approach Corporate Parties for Comments?

Communities/Local Organisations in the Conflict:

5
Information on the use of criminal law

What was the action taken by the police?

How many people did the police detain or arrest?

What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?

Did the person face any violence while in police custody?

If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?

If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?

Legislation under which the accused was charged

Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?

In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?

Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?

Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?

Legal Supporting Documents

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Author
Reported by
Elizabeth Mani
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Fact sheet

Demand/Contention of the Affected Community

Demand for more compensation than promised

Demand for employment

If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?

Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?

In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?

Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?

Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?

Status of Project

Original Project Deadline

Whether the Project has been Delayed

Significance of Land to Land Owners/Users

Whether the project was stalled due to land conflict

Source/Reference

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