Bengaluru's 2nd International Airport: Farmers Demand Halt To Drone Surveys In Soladevanahalli Site

Farmers and political leaders are raising concerns over drone and other surveys being conducted in the Soladevanahalli-Yantaganahalli Gram Panchayat area, where a Bengaluru second international airport is proposed. On Thursday, farmer leaders submitted a petition to the Tehsildar, urging an immediate halt to the surveys.

The petition was submitted by leaders from the Congress, JDS, BJP, as well as various farmer groups, and was accompanied by actor Vinod Raj. They met Tehsildar Amrit Atresh at the taluk office, expressing concerns about the ongoing survey work in the Soladevanahalli area. The protestors raised alarms about maps being drawn in some locations and demanded an explanation for the purpose of the surveys. They warned that if the surveys continued, they would not allow officials to enter the village.

Actor Vinod Raj voiced strong opposition, emphasizing that local MLAs had already expressed their opposition to the construction of an airport on fertile agricultural land and had brought the issue to the attention of the government. He stated that the surveys should be stopped immediately. "If industries come in, the land will be taken, but if the airport is built, more than 25 villages will be destroyed," Raj said. He also warned that the livelihoods of farmers would be severely impacted and promised to lead a strong protest alongside the MLA if the government did not intervene.

Farmer leader Chikka Hanumegowda also expressed concern, stating that building the airport in a green zone would destroy the lives of farmers and agriculture. Gowda reiterated that MLA N Srinivas had already submitted a petition to the government opposing the airport's construction and voiced full support for the MLA's stance.

In light of the ongoing surveys, local leaders have called on the Tehsildar to gather information on the matter and stop all survey activities immediately. They have vowed to continue protesting and to work alongside the legislators in the coming days.

Prominent local figures such as Soladevanahalli village president Santosh Nayak, former president Rudrappa, VSSN president Veeramaregaudru, and several others from the community also attended the meeting. They expressed their unified opposition to the proposed project.