Bangalore Mirror: Bangalore: Tuesday, 22 July 2014.
Mahesh
Nagegowda used RTI to get info which he leveraged to block conversion of
grazing land for commercial purposes.
Mahesh
Nagegowda, a 40-year-old farmer from Hakkimanchenalli in KR Pet of Mandya, does
not look like the regular animal-rights activist. But his efforts have just
about managed to save the village grazing lands for 3,191 animals in the town.
Yes, that is the exact number of animals in the village and it was Mahesh's
query through the Right To Information (RTI) Act that got the administration to
release this official figure. But more importantly, over 50 acres of gomala
(grazing) land is being saved from 'development'.
The
village had 82.20 acres of grazing land as common property. The town
municipality, however, took over 28 acres of this for constructing its offices.
The government also gave away 2.25 acres of grazing land to two persons for
personal use. Now only a little over 51 acres of the gomala land is left.
Mahesh
hit upon a plan to save the remaining gomala land. He was firm that it was
meant for the use of the village's animals and should not be diverted for other
uses. It must have been a rare event among farmers when he filed under the
Right to Information (RTI) Act for details of the number of animals in KR Pet
town. The zilla panchayat replied with the information on June 26, 2014. It
said there were 2,024 chickens, 414 cattle, 255 sheep, 201 dogs, 194 buffaloes,
93 goats, and 10 pigs.
Mahesh
then obtained a copy of the 2009 government of Karnataka directive to all
district administrations to prevent alienation of gomala lands. The order tells
district administrations to ensure that gomala lands in all villages remain as
per revenue records. If there is unauthorised cultivation on these lands, it
cannot be regularised. The gomala land cannot be used for any other purpose,
the directive said. Armed with these documents, Mahesh took up the fight to
save the remaining land.
On
July 7, Mahesh wrote to the deputy commissioner of Mandya, claiming that the
animals he owned, viz. 20 sheep, 13 chickens, eight cows, two buffaloes, and a
pair of bullocks, depended on the gomala land for grazing. "They had
rights to the land which has sustained them and other animals in the village
for years. Like me, most farmers in the village own animals and, therefore, the
gomala land should not be used for any other purpose. Since land rates had
skyrocketed in recent years, there is pressure to use this land for commercial
purposes which should not be allowed," he wrote.
Mahesh's
fight has brought the issue of the gomala land to the forefront in the village
and KR Pet town. Since his fight is against the town municipality taking over
part of the land for its offices, he has made enemies. But Mahesh says he will
go to any extent to protect the interests of animals in his village. Now, he is
planning a suit to reclaim the land.
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