Even as farmers continued their protests against the proposed Bidadi Township Project on the outskirts of Bengaluru, Karnataka’s Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar announced that the State Government would constitute a committee to examine the project’s merits and demerits.

Addressing the media in Bengaluru on July 15, Mr. Shivakumar said the State Cabinet would decide whether the committee should comprise retired judges, officials, legislators, or a combination of these experts.

The government would take a decision on the project within three months after considering the committee’s recommendations, he said.

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“I am not in a hurry,” the Chief Minister said, adding that the committee would examine all aspects of the project, including its legal implications and the potential benefits to farmers.

Mr. Shivakumar maintained that the Bidadi Township Project is not an initiative of the present Congress government but a continuation of a proposal announced by the H.D. Kumaraswamy-led coalition government in 2006.

“The Bidadi Township Project is not my dream project,” he said, while accusing Mr. Kumaraswamy of instigating the farmers’ agitation against the project.

Reiterating that the government would not resort to forcible acquisition of land, Mr. Shivakumar said compensation would be provided only to farmers who voluntarily agree to part with their land for the project.

Published - July 15, 2026 03:01 pm IST