Introduction

Karnataka, one of India’s most rapidly urbanising states, is witnessing growing tension between industrial expansion and agricultural preservation. The farmers of Devanahalli, Bidadi, and other districts have voiced strong opposition to large-scale land acquisitions for industrial projects. These protests underline a deeper issue — the threat to food and nutritional security posed by the displacement of farmers from fertile agricultural lands surrounding Bengaluru.

Bengaluru’s surrounding districts supply nearly 60% of the city’s fruits and vegetables and over 10 million litres of milk daily. The loss of this productive belt could have severe implications for the sustainability of the city’s food systems and rural livelihoods.

The Paradox of Development

1. Displacing Prosperity

Farmers cultivating fertile lands are being uprooted despite the availability of vast tracts of unused wasteland. The push for a Bengaluru-centric development model has skewed resource allocation and deepened regional disparities, especially when other regions like Kalyana Karnataka remain under-industrialised.

2. The Question of Equity

The industrial expansion model has often benefited corporate entities while marginalising small farmers and local communities. A truly equitable industrial land use policy must balance growth with justice — ensuring that the costs and benefits of development are distributed fairly.

The Call for an Equitable Policy

A recent meeting of the Karnataka Forum of Public Intellectuals and Cultural Voices, convened by Prakash Kammardi, advocated for an “Equitable Industrial Land Use Policy for Karnataka.” The discussion, held on Devaraj Urs’s birth anniversary — the architect of Karnataka’s land reforms — symbolically reaffirmed the need for agrarian justice and sustainable planning.

Key Proposals:

• Strengthen District Planning Committees for decentralized decision-making.

• Promote industrial growth “Beyond Bengaluru” to reduce regional imbalance.

• Follow Telangana’s example by allocating only wastelands for industrial purposes.

• Create “Food Security and Green Economy Zones” — akin to reserve forests — to protect fertile agricultural lands from diversion.

Environmental and Economic Concerns

1. Water and Land Stress

The Bengaluru Metropolitan Region Development Authority (BMRDA) has already identified water scarcity as a limiting factor for further expansion. With groundwater levels falling rapidly, experts have demanded a freeze on urban sprawl.

2. Need for Cost-Benefit Analysis

Every proposed acquisition should undergo rigorous environmental and social impact assessments (ESIA), considering:

• Loss of agricultural output and its impact on food security.

• Livelihoods lost vs. created by new industries.

• Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Only projects that pass these tests of sustainability and justice should be approved.

Governance and Transparency Issues

1. Accountability of KIADB

The Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB) has faced criticism for functioning like a real estate agency rather than a facilitator of genuine industrial growth. Despite the KIADB Act prohibiting acquisition of fertile land, violations are rampant.

2. Violations of Consent Laws

Under the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, at least 80% consent from landowners is mandatory. Yet, KIADB’s 2022 survey found over 80% of farmers unwilling to part with their land — indicating a serious breach of democratic consent.

3. Misuse and Misallocation

Industrial lands are often diverted for private clubs and recreational facilities, while large companies hold unused plots. Such lands should either be reclaimed for public use or returned to original farmers.

Employment and Land Efficiency

The imbalance between land allocated and jobs generated is stark.

• A large IT company used 300 acres for just 20,000 jobs.

• An MSME, by contrast, created thousands of jobs on only 45 acres.

This demonstrates that MSMEs offer higher employment per acre and should be prioritised in land allocation.

Recommendations of the Forum

1. Comprehensive Land Use and Acquisition Policy with stakeholder consultation.

2. White Paper on all land acquired by KIADB, detailing usage and job outcomes.

3. Moratorium on new land acquisition until the White Paper is published.

4. Rescinding amendments to the Land Reforms Act that weakened protections.

5. Prioritising wastelands for industries and allocating land for social infrastructure like health and education.

Conclusion

Karnataka’s growth story must not come at the expense of its fertile lands and food security. A balanced, transparent, and equitable land use policy — rooted in regional equity, environmental sustainability, and farmers’ rights — is vital for the state’s long-term prosperity. The lessons from these farmers’ struggles should guide India’s broader land governance reforms toward a just and sustainable development paradigm.

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