Devanahalli farmers offered record ₹2.70 crore per acre for voluntary land acquisition

On Wednesday, the Land Price Determination Advisory Committee recommended a compensation of ₹2.70 crore per acre for 120 acres of land in Channarayapatna hobli, Devanahalli taluk. The decision, reached during a joint meeting of officials and landowners held in Bengaluru, marks the highest compensation package ever proposed for agricultural land acquisition in Karnataka.

The recommendation comes after local landowners voluntarily agreed to part with their farm land for industrial development. The proposal will now be submitted to the Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB) Board for final approval.

The move represents a significant shift in the region's land acquisition process. On July 15, 2025, the state government cancelled the forced acquisition of 1,777 acres of agricultural land across 13 villages in Channarayapatna hobli. That acquisition, intended for Phase-2 of the Aerospace Park, was shelved after local farmers staged a protest dharna lasting 1,198 days.

While the government withdrew the forced acquisition, it permitted farmers to voluntarily surrender their land. Following this, several landowners offered their properties, prompting the KIADB to initiate the voluntary acquisition process.

KIADB Special Deputy Commissioner A.N. Raghunandan, who presided over the Wednesday meeting, informed the farmers that those who do not wish to receive the monetary compensation have an alternative option. Landowners can instead opt to receive 10,781 square feet of developed land in the industrial area for every acre of agricultural land they give up.

Raghunandan stated that a final notification under the KIADB Act was issued on June 16 and published in the official gazette. He emphasized that the recommended compensation is the highest ever offered in the Devanahalli region, reflecting the government's commitment to ensuring fair rates for affected landowners.

According to government sources, some farmers in the Devanahalli area who chose developed land over monetary compensation in previous acquisition phases experienced a rapid increase in land prices. This appreciation has motivated more local farmers to voluntarily participate in the current acquisition.