Farmers are against land acquisition for HAL expansion at Gubbi in Tumakuru district

KPCC vice president Muralidhar Halappa, TUMUL director Bharathi Srinivas and farmers demanding KIADB officials to desist from acquiring agricultural land for HAL expansion at Bidarehalla Kaval in Gubbi taluk of Tumakuru district. | Photo Credit: Special Event

After the Bidadi township project in Bengaluru South district sparked protests by farmers, there was an agitation in Gubbi taluk of Tumakuru district against the proposed acquisition of land for expansion of the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) helicopter plant.

About a decade ago, the state government acquired over 600 acres at Bidarehalla Kaval in Gubbi taluk for the HAL helicopter manufacturing complex, which houses manufacturing, testing and other manufacturing facilities. The facility was inaugurated in 2023.

Direction to KIADB

HAL has now applied for another 400 acres for expansion of the unit. The state government has directed the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB) to identify suitable land for the project.

After the survey, the KIADB identified around 457 acres adjacent to the existing HAL facility and submitted its proposal to the government. The identified land includes about 146 acres of farmland belonging to local farmers.

The farmers approached the government and local MLA SR Srinivas and Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee Vice President Muralidhara Halappa against the proposal to protect their farmland. They urged the authorities to acquire social forest or gomal (pasture) in the village instead of agricultural land.

Amid growing opposition, KIADB officials held a meeting with farmers and their representatives. Mr. Halappa, who represented the farmers, said those who lost their land during the first phase of the HAL project did not get the benefits promised to them by the company.

Farmers are also concerned that HAL’s long-term plans to continuously expand the facility by adding infrastructure such as a hospital and other facilities for employees could lead to further acquisition of agricultural land.

“No Job Promised”

“Farmers of Bidarehalla Kaval have already sacrificed their land for the first phase of the HAL project. Children of affected families have not been given permanent employment as promised. Employment has been limited and there are few contract jobs in Group D. Farmers are naturally reluctant to part with more of their land for expansion,” Mr. Halappa told The Hindu.

He argued that nearly 2,000 acres of social forest land in the area would be better suited for expansion. “Our demand is that the farmers should not be displaced again. The local MLAs have also taken up the matter with the Chief Minister and requested that the agricultural land be excluded from acquisition,” he said.

A delegation of farmers led by Mr. Halappa and Tumkur Cooperative Milk Producers Union Limited (TUMUL) director Bharathi Srinivas submitted a memorandum to KIADB officials urging them to acquire available social forest and gomal land for HAL expansion instead of agricultural land.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the HAL helicopter manufacturing plant in 2016.

Published – 23 Jul 2026 19:22 IST