Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy engaged in sharp accusations over the proposed Bidadi Township project, reigniting a long-running debate over land acquisition, farmer compensation and industrial development in the state. According to multiple media reports, Shivakumar accused Kumaraswamy of misleading farmers and reversing his position on a project he once championed. Speaking after a Cabinet meeting at Vidhana Soudha, Shivakumar stated that farmers were being misled, questioning why Kumaraswamy had originally notified the land for the township and designated the area a 'red zone' if he opposed the project. "The farmers of Bidadi are good people, but they are being misled. Isn't Kumaraswamy the architect of this project? He himself has admitted it," Shivakumar said, as reported by multiple sources.
The chief minister maintained that the Congress government was merely carrying forward a project initiated during Kumaraswamy's tenure and later continued under former Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa. As reported by multiple sources, Shivakumar noted that while Kumaraswamy had earlier proposed allotting 40% of developed land to affected farmers, the current government had increased that share to 50%. He announced that the process of disbursing compensation at the rate of ₹2.5 crore per acre commenced on Friday. Shivakumar claimed that nearly 80% of landowners had voluntarily agreed to part with their land and said the state would proceed within the legal framework. "We are only taking the project further; we have not initiated anything new," he emphasized, rejecting demands to de-notify the land.
Earlier in the day, Kumaraswamy defended his opposition to the current proposal, saying his position had remained consistent since his tenure as chief minister. According to reports, Kumaraswamy stated that the Bidadi Township issue was discussed in detail in the Assembly and his position as Chief Minister was on record. He had clearly stated that not even an inch of fertile agricultural land would be acquired for the project. Kumaraswamy announced that the township formed part of a broader plan to establish five townships across Karnataka and said he would soon present documents detailing his stance. He also questioned the sustainability of compensation payments, arguing that farmland would generate greater long-term value than one-time payouts. "If ₹2.30 crore is placed in a fixed deposit for 20 years, the interest earned may not exceed around ₹40 lakh. But if the land is retained, its value could appreciate to nearly ₹20 crore over the same period," Kumaraswamy said, as reported by multiple sources.
Kumaraswamy questioned the sustainability of compensation payments, arguing that farmland would generate greater long-term value than one-time payouts. As reported by multiple sources, Kumaraswamy provided a comparison: if ₹2.30 crore is placed in a fixed deposit for 20 years, the interest earned may not exceed around ₹40 lakh. However, if the land is retained, its value could appreciate to nearly ₹20 crore over the same period. He rejected demands to de-notify the land, arguing that industrial growth requires land acquisition. The Union Minister's stance reflects concerns about the long-term economic viability of the compensation model versus retaining agricultural land for potential appreciation.
