Bengaluru, June 15: Karnataka BJP legislator Basangouda R. Patil (Yatanal) has targeted the Congress government over alleged irregularities in solid waste management tenders. In a post on social media platform X, Yatanal stated that Bengaluru Solid Waste Management Limited (BSWML) identified over 100 acres of land in Gundalahalli village of Dodballapur taluk for a new landfill site. The Congress government conditionally approved 38 acres and 18 guntas of land from Terra Firma Biotechnologies Limited for this purpose.
He pointed out that BSWML had set a compensation rate of ₹1.50 crore per acre, which the finance department rejected as it violated the official rate of ₹1.35 crore per acre established by the committee under the 2013 Land Acquisition Act. Despite the finance department’s objections, a cabinet meeting on November 13, 2025, revised the compensation for Terra Firma to ₹1.57 crore per acre, causing a loss to the state treasury.
Yatanal expressed strong suspicion that the increase in compensation aimed to benefit the family of former Terra Firma director V.G. Siddhartha. Amartya Hegde, son of Café Coffee Day founder V.G. Siddhartha, is married to Aishwarya Shivakumar, the eldest daughter of D.K. Shivakumar. Many directors of Terra Firma also hold positions in Coffee Day, indicating a potential conflict of interest regarding the cabinet meeting that approved the compensation increase. D.K. Shivakumar attended this meeting and allegedly influenced the decision despite the finance department’s objections.
The BJP leader urged the government to immediately revoke the cabinet’s decision to award Terra Firma a contract at ₹1.57 crore per acre. Terra Firma has a notorious history of violating pollution control regulations, contaminating water bodies, and causing public disturbances in its operational areas. A thorough investigation by the Lokayukta is necessary to ensure transparency and integrity in the use of public funds and to hold accountable those involved in conflicts of interest, regardless of their current status or position.
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