A fresh wave of protests has emerged against the Karnataka government’s proposed Bidadi Township project on Bengaluru’s outskirts, with farmers from Byramangala and Kanchagaranahalli gram panchayats reviving the historic Appiko (tree-hugging) movement to oppose the development.
On Sunday, more than 100 farmers, including women and children, marched from Byramangala to Bannigiri village, hugging coconut and areca nut trees and urging the state government to abandon the project, which they claim threatens over 15 lakh trees, fertile farmland and local livelihoods.
Protesters allege that they have not consented to part with their land, despite claims to the contrary by some political leaders. While supporters of the township argue that Bengaluru requires planned urban expansion and improved infrastructure, farmers and environmental advocates say development should not come at the cost of ecological security, agricultural livelihoods and community consent.
As of now, there has been no fresh official response from the Karnataka government addressing Sunday’s Appiko protest or the farmers’ allegations regarding consent.
Farmers Hug Trees In Protest
Escalating their opposition to the proposed township, villagers organised a symbolic Appiko movement inspired by Karnataka’s celebrated forest conservation campaign of the 1980s.
Carrying placards reading “Nature is ours, the future is ours” and “Protect trees, nature is our mother; don’t destroy it in the name of development,” the protesters marched through the villages before gathering at coconut and areca nut plantations.
Women farmers performed a special puja to a coconut tree, revered as the Kalpavruksha, highlighting the cultural, spiritual and ecological significance of preserving mature trees that have sustained generations of farming families. Children also joined the demonstration, hugging trees and holding placards to symbolise that environmental protection is a responsibility shared across generations.
Farmers argued that the plantations are far more than commercial assets. They said the coconut and areca nut groves contribute to groundwater recharge, biodiversity, carbon storage and local climate regulation while supporting thousands of livelihoods.
Many described the trees as members of their own families, nurtured over decades through hard work. Protesters claimed that clearing such plantations for urban infrastructure would permanently alter the ecological character of the region.
According to the demonstrators, more than 15 lakh trees could be affected if the township proceeds in its proposed form, although the precise number would ultimately depend on the project’s final design and any statutory environmental clearances.
Farmer and former Taluk Panchayat member Prakash HG described the Appiko movement as a symbolic beginning of a larger campaign. “We will intensify the agitation and will not allow the government to destroy nature in the name of development,” he said.
Another farmer, Hanumantharayappa from Bannigiri village, rejected claims that landowners had agreed to surrender their land. “That is completely false. Farmers have not given their consent to the project,” he said, alleging that reports suggesting widespread acceptance among farmers were misleading.
Development Versus Conservation
The proposed Bidadi Township has become one of Karnataka’s most closely watched development proposals because it sits at the intersection of urban expansion, environmental conservation and agricultural livelihoods.
Bengaluru continues to witness rapid population growth, prompting calls for planned satellite townships and improved infrastructure to ease pressure on the city. Those supporting the project argue that well-planned urban expansion is essential to accommodate future housing, transport and economic needs.
Opponents, however, contend that the selected project area comprises productive agricultural land, extensive coconut and areca nut plantations, water bodies and environmentally sensitive ecosystems that perform vital ecological functions.
They fear that large-scale land acquisition could irreversibly alter the rural landscape while affecting farming communities that have cultivated the land for generations. Environmentalists have also emphasised that mature plantations provide important ecosystem services, including soil conservation, carbon sequestration, groundwater recharge and habitats for birds and other wildlife.
The choice to revive the Appiko movement has added historical significance to the protest. Originating in Uttara Kannada district in 1983, the Appiko movement drew inspiration from the Chipko movement in northern India and became a landmark grassroots environmental campaign in Karnataka.
Villagers physically embraced trees to prevent commercial felling, drawing national attention to forest conservation and community participation in protecting natural resources. By adopting the same method today, the protesting farmers sought to frame their resistance as a peaceful appeal for sustainable development rather than opposition to development itself.
While farmers insist they have unanimously decided not to part with their land, they are also seeking greater transparency regarding environmental impact assessments, land acquisition procedures and public consultations.
At the time of writing, no fresh official statement had been issued by the Karnataka government specifically responding to Sunday’s tree-hugging protest or the farmers’ latest claims. The broader debate over the township is therefore expected to continue as authorities balance infrastructure planning with environmental safeguards and public participation.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
The protests around the proposed Bidadi Township underline a broader challenge facing rapidly growing cities across India: how to pursue development without weakening the ecosystems and communities that sustain them. Infrastructure and urban expansion are important for economic growth, but lasting progress must also respect environmental science, transparent governance and meaningful public consultation.
Farmers’ concerns over land, livelihoods and ecological preservation deserve to be heard through dialogue, evidence-based decision-making and democratic engagement, just as governments have a responsibility to plan for future urban needs.
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