Bengaluru, 16 Sept

The Karnataka government on Tuesday decided to provide compensation of Rs 40 lakh per acre for irrigated land and Rs 30 lakh per acre for dry land to farmers whose lands will be acquired for phase three of the Upper Krishna Project (UKP-3).

The decision was taken at a special Cabinet meeting held under the leadership of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

Phase Three of the UKP project involves raising the height of the Almatti dam from 519 to 524 metres, which will increase storage capacity by 100 tmc ft. This requires acquisition of 1.33 lakh acres, including 75,563 acres that will get submerged.

"There was a demand from farmers, ministers and MLAs from the region that a minimum of Rs 40 lakh per acre has to be paid for irrigated land and Rs 30 lakh per acre for dry land, and accordingly we have decided in the cabinet to pay the same amount," Siddaramaiah told press after the meeting.

He said for canal work more 51,000 acre of land is required, and the work has been completed in over 23,000 acre, for which compensation of Rs 30 lakh for irrigated land and Rs 25 lakh for dry land has been decided.

"The compensation will be paid in three financial years. Also consent awards will be given as the public representatives have taken the responsibility of convincing the farmers. We are confident that they will accept," he claimed.

Responding to a question, Siddaramaiah said every year about Rs 15,000-Rs 20,000 crore will be spent. On the whole, the project will cost over Rs 70,000 crore.

Terming the cabinet decision as "historic", the CM said, in 2023, the previous BJP government had decided to give Rs 24 lakh and Rs 20 lakh per acre respectively for irrigated and dry land. "Farmers did not accept it and it was not implemented."

Siddaramaiah also urged the Union government to issue a gazette notification allowing the State government to increase the height of the Almatti dam by issuing a gazette notification.

Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said that the government would also create a new authority for land acquisition. 

“As per the provision under Section 51 of The Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act 2013, we will set up Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Compensation Authority. This Authority will be led by a Judge appointed by the Chief Justice,” he said.