The Belagavi Urban Development Authority (BUDA) on Monday revoked the 2014 land use conversion order granted to Jai Kisan Private Vegetable Market, which had allowed agricultural land to be turned into a commercial wholesale market. The cancellation covers multiple CTS numbers, including 677, 678, 679/1, 680/1, 686/1, 686/2, 696, 697/2, 698/1, 698/2, 8, 10, 28, and 20. According to the commissioner’s order, the move followed several violations of land use conditions by the market management.
Farmer leader Sidagouda Modagi, president of Bharatiya Krishik Samaj (United), who led the legal battle against the project, welcomed the decision as a “victory for farmers.” He recalled that the establishment of the private market nearly crippled the government-run APMC market. Modagi pursued the case in the high court and the Supreme Court and had even staged a 10-day hunger strike in 2022.
Pointing to irregularities, Modagi said one of the applicants for the land use change, Basalingappa Siddanayakappa Bhavi, had died in 2011—two years before an application was allegedly submitted in his name in 2013. “The application carried forged signatures and fake documents, which we exposed with proof,” he stated. He further alleged that the BJP government pushed the Belagavi wholesale market as part of its policy to promote private APMC markets under the farm laws. “Though the Centre later withdrew the laws after protests, the Karnataka BJP continued supporting private markets, and this project was one such act,” he charged.
Social activist Rajkumar Topannavar said BUDA’s order would pave the way for cancellation of all approvals given to the private market. He urged traders to return to the government APMC, which still has 175 outlets vacant, and appealed to farmers to bring their produce there. Social worker Sujit Mulgund and advocate Nitin Bolbandi were also present.
