Karnataka govt to hear out farmers opposing Posco plant

The Karnataka government has decided to hear out farmers over their objections filed against the land acquisition proceedings for the proposed R32,000-crore integrated steel plant by South Korean steel major Posco. The first hearing will he held on July 4.

The government has appointed a Special Land Acquisition Officer (SLAO) to hear the farmers and file a report to the government to facilitate issuing of a final notification in the next 30-45 days. Talking to FE, Mahantesh Bilagi, who is the SLAO headquartered in Dharward to carry out land acquisition proceedings for Posco, said the government had served notices on 536 farmers, evincing its intention to acquire land parcel for the steel giant in Gadag district.

The preliminary notices were served under Section 28(1) of the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB) Act.

So far, 280 farmers have filed their written objections against the land acquisition. After SLAO’s report, the KIADB will serve final notification to the landowners and fix the price for their land.

The government is looking to acquire 3,382 acres for Posco to set up a 6 million tonne per annum steel mill with a 400 megawatt captive power plant. The company has already paid R130 crore to KIADB to carry out land acquisition proceedings.

?We will hear farmers by having individual sittings. We have decided to hear the farmers in four batches starting from the next week,? Bilagi said.

Industry department sources said the filing of objections by the land owners was routine in land acquisition proceedings. According to the official feedback, farmers in the area are prepared to give off their land but are looking for higher compensation as in the case of ArcelorMittal, sources added.

Even in the case of ArcelorMittal, the farmers in Bellary district had initially objected, demanding higher compensation for their lands. After multiple rounds of sittings with the farmers, the government fixed prices under three slabs. It offered R16 lakh an acre for roadside land and R12 lakh for the land 500 metres from the road.

The price fixation for other lands stood at R8 lakh per acre. So far, the government has acquired 3,000 acre out of total 4,765 acre of the notified land in Bellary district for ArcelorMittal.

According to sources, Posco is interested in getting water for the steel mill from the nearby Thungabadra river. But the government has ruled out the possibility of supplying water from the river while providing an option for the company to use water from the Alamatti reservoir when it receive excess water.