Members of the Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS), environmental activists, the Parisarakkagi Naavu group, Karnataka Rashtra Samithi (KRS) Party, and other progressive organisations staged a protest at Gudumadanahalli village in Mysuru taluk on Monday (July 20), opposing the State government’s proposal to establish a NIMHANS-type institute on 20 acres of fertile farmland.

The protesters alleged that the project would displace farmers who have been cultivating the land for over six decades, and urged the government to identify an alternative site to protect the green belt and the livelihoods of the farming community.

Objecting to the proposed acquisition of land in Survey Nos. 60, 68 and 8, KRRS said more than 80 farmers have been cultivating the land for the past 60 to 70 years. The area is used for growing coconut, arecanut and two paddy crops annually, while dairy farming is also a major source of livelihood, with over 400 cows reared in the village.

The farmers warned that acquisition of the land would severely impact agriculture, dairy farming and the local economy, and appealed to the government to drop the proposal.

KRRS district president Hosur Kumar, district general secretary P. Marankayya, Mandakalli Mahesh, activist Parashuram Gowda, KRS party district president Nagaraju and hundreds of farmers, including women farmers, participated in the protest.

Published - July 20, 2026 06:55 pm IST