Bengaluru: Union minister HD Kumaraswamy Thursday accused the state govt of turning the proposed Greater Bengaluru Integrated Township near Bidadi into an “official real estate business” and demanded an immediate halt to land acquisition proceedings.Approved by the cabinet last month, the project proposes development across 7,481 acres spanning nine villages in Bengaluru South district and Ramanagara taluk.Targeting chief minister Siddaramaiah, Kumaraswamy alleged the Rs 18,133-crore project was approved to safeguard his position, and the CM was “acting like a real estate agent”. He asked how the govt fixed compensation for farmland at Rs 2 crore per acre while allegedly valuing govt kharab land within a private resort at Rs 12 crore per acre.He said fertile irrigated land in villages cultivating coconuts, mulberry and vegetables was being acquired despite farmers protesting for over a year. Questioning the govt’s claim that 80% of farmers had consented to the project, he asked, “Who are these farmers?” He alleged that the township proposal was designed to generate nearly Rs 33,000 crore through site sales, taxes and other revenue streams. “This shows the govt is functioning like a real estate broker,” he alleged.Kumaraswamy said the integrated township concept was first proposed during his tenure in 2006. He said five townships were planned in locations such as Hoskote, Solur and Satnur to decongest Bengaluru city. He said the earlier proposals involved extensive discussions with farmers and challenged law minister HK Patil to release the fact-finding committee report prepared by Congress when it opposed the project in 2006. He said he would continue legal efforts against the acquisition and stand with affected farmers.He also criticised deputy CM DK Shivakumar over the newly announced Bhu Guarantee scheme, which seeks to convert B-khata properties into A-khata under the Greater Bengaluru framework alleging that the govt was attempting to raise money through property regularisation. He urged Bengaluru residents not to “succumb” to the govt’s efforts to collect money through B-khata conversions and claimed that “the next govt” would regularise such properties without burdening owners financially.Meanwhile, clarifying reports that he could be projected as the NDA face in Karnataka for the 2028 assembly polls, Union minister H D Kumaraswamy said JD(S)-BJP alliance was formed with the objective of providing a “good govt” for the state. “I have already been chief minister twice,” Kumaraswamy said, without directly responding to speculation over his leadership role in the alliance. He also questioned the delay in elections to Greater Bengaluru Authority after the State Election Commission indicated its readiness to conduct the polls. “The chief minister himself assured GBA elections in June. But now, the govt is planning to delay,” he said.
