MDA’s Bommenahalli Township: Farmers seek 50:50 sites, Rs. 10 lakh cash 

Rising land rates prompt landowners to demand additional compensation 

Mysuru: The Mysuru Development Authority’s (MDA) ambitious plan to develop a major housing township at Bommenahalli has run into a hurdle, with landowners reluctant to accept the proposed 50:50 land-sharing arrangement. Some have demanded an additional cash compensation of Rs. 10 lakh per acre. 

The MDA has initiated the process of developing the Bommenahalli Township housing project in Yelwal hobli of Mysuru taluk, under Nagawala Gram Panchayat, covering nearly 2,000 acres. 

The project is proposed to be implemented under a 50:50 farmer participation model, under which landowners who surrender their land will receive 50 percent of the developed sites without having to make any financial investment. The MDA had earmarked Rs. 460 crore for the township in its last Budget. 

Sources told Star of Mysore this morning that around 200 farmers, owning 500 to 600 acres, had initially come forward voluntarily to offer their land under the scheme. 

However, with land values appreciating considerably, several landowners are now unwilling to settle for the standard 50:50 arrangement and are seeking an additional Rs. 10 lakh per acre as cash compensation. 

Proposal to Government 

In view of these demands, the MDA has submitted a proposal to the Government seeking approval to offer a combined package of 50:50 developed sites and cash compensation of Rs. 10 lakh per acre. The move is aimed at securing the consent of more landowners and expediting the formation of the layout. 

Once Government approval is received, the MDA plans to hold discussions with the landowners and finalise the terms. 

1,200-acre Phase-1 

The Phase-I of Bommenahalli Township is proposed to cover 1,200 acres, including 400 acres of Government land. The layout will have sites of different dimensions, including 20×30, 30×40, 50×80 and 80×120 ft, which will be categorised separately. 

Several industries, which depend on diesel-powered steamers and boilers for their production processes, are reportedly building up stocks as a precautionary measure amid escalating tensions between the United States (US) and Iran. 

The concerns have intensified following US President Donald Trump’s confirmation of military strikes on Iran’s Qeshm Island and Iranian air defence systems. 

‘No threat to supplies’ 

Amid rumours of an impending fuel shortage and reports of panic buying, S.K. Dinesh, former President of the Indian Oil Dealers Association, said there was no shortage of petrol or diesel in Mysuru and no immediate threat to supplies. 

“There have been temporary supply hiccups for some dealers over the past two days. The problem is entirely due to technical issues with SBI servers. Petroleum dealers have made their RTGS payments correctly, but the funds have been delayed in being released and credited to the respective oil companies. 

“Since fuel loading is permitted only after payment clearance, the server glitch has resulted in brief delays for some dealers. This is a banking-related technical issue and has nothing to do with any shortage of fuel,” he said. 

Dinesh also sought to allay fears over the impact of the US-Iran conflict on India’s fuel supplies. He said, India had adequate petroleum stocks and pointed out that the country had continued to receive supplies even during earlier periods of geopolitical tension. 

According to him, India maintains petroleum reserves at Mangaluru and other locations across the country, with stocks sufficient to meet requirements for more than 30 days. He added that the country’s actual commercial stocks were also robust. 

Dealers urge public not to panic 

Basave Gowda, State President of the Petrol Dealers Association, has also appealed to the public not to believe unverified reports of fuel scarcity or resort to panic buying. 

“India sources crude oil and petroleum products from around 50 countries. We are not dependent on any single nation for our fuel requirements. Even if supplies from one region are affected, other sources are available to meet domestic demand,” he said. 

He added that petroleum dealers were prepared to meet public demand and that no supply disruption had been reported so far.