BENGALURU: Even as farmers on the outskirts of the city are opposing acquisition of 1,000 acres of land by the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB) in Anekal taluk, the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) is now preparing to acquire about 600 acres in Bengaluru South taluk, leaving farmers distressed.

Farmers have already staged protest opposing the proposed land acquisition by the KIADB and the BDA’s proposal comes amid this. The civic agency is acquiring land in Hulimangala, Hullahalli, Maragondanahalli and surrounding villages for the Peripheral Ring Road project, construction of apartment and formation of new layouts. But farmers allege that they have not been given any information about the land acquisition.

Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (Praveen Shetty faction) president Praveen Shetty said, “We condemn the attitude of the government, which has joined hands with real estate agents to create a land mafia. In the name of BDA and KIADB projects, they are acquiring farmers’ land and we oppose this.

“There are many small farmers around Sarjapur and the government, through the BDA, is threatening farmers. The BDA has been developing various layouts, but sites are not being allotted to the poor, workers and farmers. We have been demanding that jobs be given to locals. The government can acquire dry land and spare fertile land”, he said.

Vedike vice-president Puneeth said the government should develop 10 acres of land and distribute sites farmers. “The government should stop evicting farmers of Vabhasandra, Kempapura, Nanjapura, Hullahalli, Maragondanahalli and other villages. We will organise a jatha against the land acquisition”.