Adv Sonappa Nandrankar addresses a meeting at Khanapur.
Photo Credits: Louis Rodrigues
BELAGAVI
While strong resentment is brewing among farmers and activists in Khanapur taluka against the land acquisition notices issued by Karnataka irrigation authorities, noted Bombay High Court advocate Sonappa Nandrankar has claimed that there are procedural violations in the land acquisition notices.
It may be recalled that about 16 farmers were served with the notice, which was dated February 25, only on April 2.
Adv Nandrankar, a son of the soil hailing from Khanapur taluka, had come from Mumbai to express his solidarity and support to the ‘Save Mhadei, Save Khanapur taluka, Save Rains’ meeting at Khanapur on Wednesday, where he presented the legal aspects.
Later speaking to The Goan, Adv Nandrankar said he hails from Kanjale village which lies in the ecosensitive Bhimgad periphery.
“Since my childhood, I have lived in this vicinity and know the collateral impact of the project which will lead to irreversible damage to the farming and ecology in Bhimgad and Mhadei peripheries,” Adv. Nandrankar said.
He was also critical about the notices served to farmers in the Bhandura nullah vicinity, stating that the procedure and the delay caused in serving the notices are questionable.
“This was, perhaps, done to cause inconvenience to farmers who have been asked to file objections within 60 days of the notice. The farmers, however, can always ask the notice delivering officer to change the date of receiving these notices.”
He claimed that these notices were infructuous as the Karnataka government had not conducted a public consultation and social assessment under Section 4 of the Land Acquisition Act.
“The land acquisition notice that has been served has not followed the due process of law and hence, the notice is bad in the law and illegal. The concerned farmers will raise their objections as per the procedure before the competent authority. And if required, they will also approach the court challenging the acquisition of their land,” Adv. Nandrankar said.
“We will also argue that the notices are not valid as no social impact assessment was conducted, nor were gram panchayats consulted. In this process, the whims and fancies of vested interests won’t stand unless it is a matter of extreme necessity or urgency.”
Stepping up their agitation against the controversial Kalsa-Bhandura water diversion project, activists, farmers and religious heads on Wednesday opposed Karnataka’s proposed land acquisition for the Bhandura water diversion to lay an underground pipeline in the ecologically sensitive Mhadei basin.
During the meeting at Khanapur on Wednesday, they also resolved to oppose the construction of dams in the eco-sensitive region and the diversion of water from Mhadei.
