Deprecated (16384): The ArrayAccess methods will be removed in 4.0.0.Use getParam(), getData() and getQuery() instead. - /home/brlfuser/public_html/src/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line: 150
 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php. [CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311]
Deprecated (16384): The ArrayAccess methods will be removed in 4.0.0.Use getParam(), getData() and getQuery() instead. - /home/brlfuser/public_html/src/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line: 151
 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php. [CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311]
Warning (512): Unable to emit headers. Headers sent in file=/home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php line=853 [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 48]
Warning (2): Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php:853) [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 148]
Warning (2): Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php:853) [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 181]
LATEST NEWS UPDATES | Deepening crisis

Deepening crisis

Share this article Share this article
published Published on Jul 13, 2011   modified Modified on Jul 13, 2011

-The Deccan Herald


"Law is misused for business interests."

There is reason for serious concern over the aggressive acquisition of farm land by the Karnataka government on behalf of corporates. It has notified 3,382 acres in Halligudi in Gadag district where Korean steel giant Posco proposes to set up a 6 million tonne per annum integrated steel plant and a 450-mw captive power plant. Farmers in the area, whose lands have been notified, are up in arms as their livelihoods will be jeopardised.

Worryingly, the government appears to be acquiring land far in excess of what companies have stated as their requirement. Farmers in several villages including Sutagatti, Itagatti, Mammigatti and Durgadakeri have been issued notices. The possibility of forcible eviction looms. Violent agitations over land, which occurred in several states where famers were removed from fertile land, are in danger of erupting in Karnataka as well.

State governments have used the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, ostensibly to acquire land for ‘development’ in the ‘public interest.’  However, more often than not such land acquisition has been on behalf of private business, whether real estate, mining or housing to benefit a few and at the cost of farmers.

This is the case in Karnataka as well where land acquisition will deny thousands of farmers their land and livelihood.  Recently, the Supreme Court made a strong case for repeal of the Land Acquisition Act. A colonial law that vests huge powers in the state for land acquisition in the name of development, this law is being misused to promote private business interests. All it brings to the farmers are lathis and litigation, the apex court evocatively pointed out.

Nearly 200,000 farmers are reported to have committed suicide in India over the past decade. The role of neo-liberal economic policies in driving farmers to this extreme step is well known. In Karnataka, which falls in the ‘suicide belt,’ around 2,585 farmers committed suicide in 2010, according to the State Crime Records Bureau.

This is an indication of the depth of rural distress in the state. Instead of stepping in to prevent dispossession of farmers, who have already suffered due to neo-liberal policies, the government is adding to their woes by forcibly acquiring their land. It is adding salt to deep wounds.


The Deccan Herald, 13 July, 2011, http://www.deccanherald.com/content/175772/deepening-crisis.html


Related Articles

 

Write Comments

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*

Video Archives

Archives

share on Facebook
Twitter
RSS
Feedback
Read Later

Contact Form

Please enter security code
      Close