Krishnagiri farmers detained while trying to submit their petitions at DMK party head offices

CHENNAI: Hundreds of farmers from Krishnagiri were detained in Chennai on Monday when they attempted to submit petitions at the offices of major political parties opposing the State government’s move to acquire farm lands for the proposed Hosur Greenfield International Airport, an innovation corridor, SIPCOT industrial expansion and Special Economic Zone (SEZ) projects.

Farmers, from 12 revenue villages in Hosur taluk, belong to the ‘Namathu Nilam Namadhe Vivasayigal Nala Sangam’ and travelled to Chennai to highlight their concerns.

They said that the State government had planned to acquire around 39,000 acres of farm lands in Hosur for infrastructure and industrial projects. This could directly affect the livelihoods of nearly 50,000 farming families who depend on these lands. They also warned that using fertile farmland for industrial projects would severely impact agriculture and rural livelihoods in the region.

Association state president Kumar Ravikumar told DT Next, “The proposed land acquisition is expected to affect several villages including Mudali, Balavanapalli, Pethamudali and Adhavanapalli, Dasappalanatham, Karuppalli, Nandhimangalam, Soodakondapalli, Venkatesapuram, Midutheppalli, Mudali, Attur and Alanatham, and several others. These lands have protected farming families like ours for generations, and agriculture remains our only source of livelihood.”

While stating that farmers are willing to cooperate with the government for development, he urged the State to exclude these lands from industrial projects such as the airport, innovation corridor, SIPCOT industrial estates and SEZ developments. “The government should take a balanced and thoughtful decision to protect rural communities while pursuing development,” he added.

Farmers were detained by police when they attempted to submit their petitions to DMK party head offices in Anna Arivalayam.