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The Karnataka government has scrapped plans to acquire 1,777 acres in Devanahalli for an aerospace and defence park, following years of sustained protests by local farmers. Going forward, land will only be acquired from willing sellers, with compensation offered above guidance value and 10% of developed plots allocated in return. Farmers who choose not to sell can continue cultivation, with their land remaining part of the green belt. The revised approach balances development with livelihoods, avoiding forced displacement. Officials say the move respects public sentiment while keeping the door open for voluntary industrial collaboration in a region already key to India's aerospace ecosystem.
The Karnataka government has officially decided to cancel the planned acquisition of 1,777 acres in Devanahalli taluk for its proposed aerospace and defence park, a move that follows three years of continuous protest by farmers in the region. The opposition from local landowners had intensified in recent months, leading the state to earlier exclude 495 acres from the original acquisition plan. With this week's announcement, the government clarified that land would now be acquired only from those willing to sell. Advertisement
To incentivize voluntary participation, it has assured compensation at rates higher than the notified guidance value, along with a provision to allocate 10% of developed plots to those giving up land. The farmers who choose not to sell will be permitted to continue agricultural activity, and their land is expected to be maintained within the green belt. The revised approach aims to ease tension between infrastructure development and agricultural preservation while protecting livelihoods.
The state cabinet had previously cleared acquisition through Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB), and nearly 500 acres were already earmarked for industrial development. However, this plan has now been shelved, and further land conversions in the area for real estate purposes will also be restricted. Officials stated that the decision respects local sentiments while allowing scope for voluntary industrial collaboration.
While Karnataka has been a preferred hub for aerospace with HAL, ISRO, and DRDO operations based in Bengaluru, its latest move signals a recalibration in how infrastructure is pursued amidst growing public resistance.
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