Belagavi Shetkari Sanghatan (an association of farmers) in Halaga village are firm on their decision to not give up their fertile land for a Special Treatment Plant (STP) proposed in their village in Belagavi district. Some farmers have even threatened to commit suicide if the project went ahead as planned. They have also submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), the district administration and the Karnataka Urban Water Supply and Drainage Board (KUWSDB) stating the same.
In April 2018, the KUWSDB called a meeting of Municipal Administration Minister Ramesh Jarkiholi with the farmers to convince them to give up their agricultural land, but they refused.
The STP was first proposed on a plot of government-owned barren land in Alarwad village by the Belagavi City Corporation (BCC) in 1985 to treat sewage water generated in Belagavi city. The state government sanctioned funds worth Rs 10 crore the same year, and work on the plant began soon after. The BCC even completed the laying of underground drainage lines. But the Pollution Control Board objected, stating that the plant was too close to residential areas and public places. The BCC then decided to shift the plant to Halaga village in 2007. By then, half of the work in Alarwad had already been completed. The district authorities decided that the STP plant in Halaga should be at least 10 kilometres away from the city. Under the new plan, the KUWSDB plans to install two pump houses in Halaga to pump the sewage for treatment. The authorities had offered compensation of Rs 7,000 per gunta (40 gunta is equal to one acre) to the farmers for their land, while the market price stood at Rs 30 lakh per gunta.
In 2015, the Dharwad High Court ruled that the STP was necessary for the city as it would prevent sewage waste from spilling into the land and water. The farmers appealed against the order to a double bench of the High Court the same year. In May 2017, the district commissioner ordered the officials of the BCC and KUWSDB to submit a status report of the plant after the farmers staged a massive protest. Additional Deputy Commissioner H B Budeppa said that the project cannot be implemented under the Land Acquisition Act, 2013, if the farmers are unwilling to give up their land. He asked the KUWSDB to look for an alternate location or to try and set up the STP in its original location in Alarwad. In August 2018, then Additional Deputy Commissioner Suresh Itnal asked Assistant Commissioner Kavita Yogappannavar to get a report of the ground situation from the farmers and the BCC.
Following this, on 19 May 2019, a meeting was called by the water resource minister and was attended by MLA, Belgavi (Rural) and MLA, Belgavi (South) where the suggestion of moving the STP to Khasbag, Belgaum was mooted. At the same meeting, BCC Commissioner updated the attendees that under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation scheme, 19 acres of land were identified at another location to set up the STP and Rs 1.12 crore compensation would be given to people who stand to lose their land. A committee representing farmers was sought to be set up to take a final call in the matter.
Subsequently, on 7 June 2019, the MLA of Belagavi (Rural) publicly declared that she would not allow work on the STP unless commensurate and equitable compensation was paid.
A year later, on 22 June 2020, work in Halaga on the STP commenced under police protection even as farmers protested. As per a report in September 2020, the construction work of the sewage treatment plant has been awarded to the Pune-based Gharpure Constructions.
In November 2023, Cabinet Minister for Women and Child Development Laxmi Hebbalkar asked the officials to resend the compensation proposal of farmers back to state government. The revised proposal asks for Rs 10 lakh per gunta land and Rs 4 crore per acre. The minister also asked that the government should fulfil the demands of jobs to families who have lost their land.
As on June 2025, the project has been stalled. Belagavi MP Jagadish Shettar wrote a letter to CM Siddaramaiah, urging him to expedite the project.
Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
Refusal to give up land for the project
Other Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
Region Classification
Rural
Type of Land
Private
What was the action taken by the police?
How many people did the police detain or arrest?
What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?
Did the person face any violence while in police custody?
If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?
If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?
Legislation under which the accused was charged
Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?
In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?
Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?
Details of sources (names of accused, names and numbers of any lawyers, names of any police officers contacted)
Status of Project
Project underway despite protests
Original Project Deadline
Whether the Project has been Delayed
Significance of Land to Land Owners/Users
Agricultural land
Whether the project was stalled due to land conflict
Source/Reference
Total investment involved (in Crores):
₹
162
Type of investment:
Cost of Project
Year of Estimation
1985
Has the Conflict Ended?
No
When did it end?
Why did the conflict end?
Categories of Legislations Involved in the Conflict
Land Acquisition Laws, Other, Land Acquisition Laws
Legislations/Policies Involved
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Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Whether claims/objections were made as per procedure in the relevant statute
What was the claim(s)/objection(s) raised by the community?
What was the Decision of the Concerned Government Department?
Legal Processes and Loopholes Enabling the Conflict:
Non-implementation/violation of LARR Act
Incorrect estimation of compensation
Controversial land acquisition by the government
Legal Status:
In Court
Status of Case In Court
Disposed
Whether any adjudicatory body was approached
Name of the adjudicatory body
Name(s) of the Court(s)
High Court of Karnataka (Dharwad Bench)
Case Number
WRIT PETITION Nos.67359-67366/2011 & WRIT PETITION Nos.67900-910/2011
Main Reasoning/Decision of court
Major Human Rights Violations Related to the Conflict:
Whether criminal law was used against protestors:
Reported Details of the Violation:
Date of Violation
Location of Violation
Government Departments Involved in the Conflict:
Karnataka Urban Water Supply and Drainage Board (KUWSDB)
PSUs Involved in the Conflict:
Did LCW Approach Government Authorities for Comments?
Name, Designation and Comment of the Government Authorities Approached
Corporate Parties Involved in the Conflict:
Did LCW Approach Corporate Parties for Comments?
Communities/Local Organisations in the Conflict:
Farmer-activist Narayan Sawant
What was the action taken by the police?
How many people did the police detain or arrest?
What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?
Did the person face any violence while in police custody?
If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?
If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?
Legislation under which the accused was charged
Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?
In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?
Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?
Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?
