The 65-kilometre-long Peripheral Ring Road (PRR), which will connect Tumkur and Hosur Road in Bengaluru, was proposed to reduce traffic congestion in the city, but the project has been delayed by 15 years. The initial notifications of land acquisition for the project were issued on September 29, 2005, and January 15, 2006, and the final notification was issued on June 29, 2007. The project would require 172 acres of private land, passing through 67 villages. However, due to frequent changes in the road alignment and delay in the completion of the acquisition process, the INR 20,000-crore project is held up. Those who stand to lose their land have demanded that the compensation should be paid as per the current market value and by duly following the LARR Act, 2013. Some land owners, who were unable to either sell or build on their land for over 15 years due to the issue of notification are demanding additional compensation. Many people affected by the project are boycotting the survey procedure, even though they are supposed to be present when government officials conduct surveys of their land. They believe the road construction will get delayed further and they are unlikely to receive any compensation in the near future. The Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha has organised several protests against the land acquisition and delay by blocking roads, demonstrating in front of the BDA office and submitting memorandums to political representatives, including Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa. We do not have faith in politicians and officers. This project will not be completed soon, and we will not get the compensation we deserve. We want our land back. My family has struggled without this land for so long; we could have sold it and used the money for our expenses, Gopal Reddy, a land owner, told LCW. Due to multiple changes in the alignment, they (government) did not pay anybody (land owners). They could have paid all the farmers, they could have deposited the money in an escrow account in court, but they did do that. The BDA is wholly and solely responsible for the project cost escalation, another affected person, who wishes to remain anonymous, told LCW. She added, Even in the last protest held in February 2020, all the farmers were asking the BDA the compensation rate, but the officials are not clear themselves. Some land owners have even requested for a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the BDA as they want to sell their land and not wait for the compensation and project completion. But special land acquisition officer N.R. Umesh Chandra told LCW that an NOC cannot be issued once a final notification to acquire the land has been issued. The earlier guidance value (minimum value below which no property transaction can take place) is low. We want to pay as per the 2019 guidance value. The final decision on when the amount will be paid will be taken by September-end after a few meetings, he added. It was later decided that land losers will be paid according to the guidance value of 2019-2020. However, the decision is not final, and the state government is yet to give its nod on the matter.
Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
Demand for more compensation than promised, Refusal to give up land for the project
Government Bodies Involved in the Conflict:
Bangalore Development Authority
Corporate Parties Involved in the Conflict:
Other Parties Involved in the Conflict:
Legislations Involved in the Conflict:
Legal Processes and Loopholes Enabling the Conflict:
Legal Status:
In Court
Name(s) of Court(s)
Supreme Court of India, Karnataka High Court
Case Number
Civil Appeal No. 2566 of 2019, WP 4550 of 2008
Nature of Protest
Protests/marches, Blockades, Refusal of compensation, Boycott of official procedures/non-participation in official processes, Complaints, petitions, memorandums to officials
Major Human Rights Violations Related to the Conflict:
Reported Details of the Violation:
Date of Violation
Location of Violation
Has the Conflict Ended?
No
When did it end?
Why did the conflict end?