Badami villagers to boycott Siddu for not opposing land acquisition

BAGALKOT: Villagers of Halakurki in Badami taluk have decided to boycott Congress leader Siddaramaiah who will be on a two-day visit to his constituency. Siddaramaiah is scheduled to visit Chikkamucchalagudda, on December 12 and inaugurate and a hostel for backward communities and minorities (BCM). Chikkamucchalagudda comes under Halakurki Gram Panchayat limits.

The villagers are angry that Siddaramaiah has not raised the issue of ‘forcible’ acquisition of their land for an airport project, in the Assembly.

The Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB) is acquiring 2,000 acres in Halakurki village for an airport project. Farmers, who are opposing the acquistion, have been on protest for the last 80 days and are angry that Siddaramaiah, who represents, the Badami Assembly constituency, has not raised the issue in the House.

The KIADB is acquiring land for an airport conceived by Large and Medium Industries Minister and Bilagi lawmaker Murughesh Nirani. The farmers say their are not ready to part with their fertile land, but the KIADB has already issued land acquisition notices to them.