Belagavi: The government’s decision to drop acquisition of 1,777 acres in Devanahalli due to farmers’ protests will not be a setback to the Aerospace & Defence (A&D) Park project there, Industries Minister MB Patil told the Assembly on Friday.

Patil was replying to a question by Deputy Leader of the Opposition Arvind Bellad, who said the government should relocate the A&D Park to somewhere between Belagavi and Hubballi-Dharwad.

Farmers from 13 villages in the Channarayapatna hobli, Devanahalli taluk protested for 1,195 days against the acquisition of 1,777 acres of their lands before the government gave in.

“As a special case, we've dropped the acquisition of 1,777 acres and it'll continue as a permanent agricultural zone. Just because one parcel of land had to be dropped (from acquisit

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