Farmers in Gubbi taluk,Tumakuru district,are pushing back hard against plans to acquire land for Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) helicopter plant expansion. This resistance echoes earlier protests in Bidadi township,Bengaluru South,where land grabs also sparked anger.
HAL,which opened its helicopter complex in 2023,needs another 400 acres to boost operations. The Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB) has orders from state officials to find land for this growth. After surveying,KIADB identified about 457 acres next to the current site,including 146 acres of farmland owned by locals.
Farmers are turning to local politicians like S.R. Srinivas and Congress vice-president Muralidhar Halappa to protect their fields. They argue for using social forestry or gomal (grazing) land instead,insisting their livelihoods are at stake.
At a meeting with KIADB,farmers voiced frustration over broken promises from HAL's earlier phase. Families displaced back then still lack the permanent jobs they were promised,getting only temporary contracts instead. Naturally,there's hesitation to give up more land .
“The farmers of Bidarehalla Kaval already gave their land for HAL's first phase. Kids of affected families didn't get the permanent jobs promised,” Halappa said. “It's no surprise farmers are wary of losing more land.”
Farmers also worry about HAL's future plans,which could mean more land grabs for things like a hospital and employee amenities. There's fear more fields could be at risk.
Halappa pointed out 2,000 acres of nearby social forestry land as a better option. “Farmers shouldn't be displaced again,” he stressed. Local MLAs have raised the issue with the Chief Minister,urging no farm land be taken .
A farmers' group,led by Halappa and Bharathi Srinivas from TUMUL,submitted a formal request to KIADB. They asked again for social forestry and gomal land to be used instead of farms.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid foundation stone for HAL's helicopter facility in 2016,an important investment in the area's industry. But the ongoing land disputes show tricky balance between development and farmers' rights.
