JUDGMENT :

P. Krishna Bhat, J.

The appellants herein were the petitioners in W.P.No.112171/2015 & connected matters in which they had challenged the acquisition of their lands in Muchakandi and Bagalakote villages of Bagalakote District under two notifications issued by the respondents. The same came to be dismissed by the learned Single Judge by a common judgment dated 10.12.2021. Being aggrieved by the same, the appellants are before us in these appeals.

2. Under the impugned notifications, about 1275 acres of lands were acquired in Muchakandi & Bagalakote WA No. 100139 of 2022 C/W WA No.100062/2022 villages of Bagalkot District for the purpose of implementing Unit-III of Upper Krishna Project (for short "UKP"). It is stated that ever since 1985, lands were being acquired for implementing UKP which was for the avowed "Public Purpose" of irrigating large tracts of land in various districts of North Karnataka extending upto Yadagiri.

3. There is no dispute about the fact that an award dated 30.12.2010 was passed by the Krishna Water Dispute Tribunal-II permitting the increase of height of Dam from 523 mtrs to 525 mtrs which in its wake would have submerged large extents of lands in Bag