Farmers protest NIMHANS-type institute on fertile land in Mysuru, demand alternative site

Hundreds of farmers, activists, and members of various organisations staged a protest at Gudumadanahalli village in Mysuru taluk on Monday, opposing the State government’s proposal to establish a NIMHANS-type institute on 20 acres of fertile farmland.

The protesters, including members of the Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS), environmental groups, and political parties, alleged that the project would displace farmers who have been cultivating the land for over six decades. They urged the government to identify an alternative site to protect the green belt and the livelihoods of the farming community.

According to the KRRS, more than 80 farmers have been cultivating the land in Survey Nos. 60, 68 and 8 for the past 60 to 70 years. The area is used for growing coconut, arecanut and two paddy crops annually. Dairy farming is also a major source of livelihood, with over 400 cows reared in the village.

The farmers warned that acquisition of the land would severely impact agriculture, dairy farming and the local economy, and appealed to the government to drop the proposal. They demanded that the government consider alternative land that does not involve fertile agricultural land or displace farmers.

Among those who participated in the protest were KRRS district president Hosur Kumar, district general secretary P. Marankayya, Mandakalli Mahesh, activist Parashuram Gowda, KRS party district president Nagaraju, and hundreds of farmers, including women farmers.

The State government’s proposal is part of an initiative to set up a mental health institute similar to the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS) in Bengaluru. However, the protesters argue that such a facility should not come at the cost of fertile farmland and the displacement of farmers.

No official response from the government was available at the time of reporting.