Mangaluru: Karavali Karnataka Janabhivruddhi Vedike and Krishi Bhoomi Samrakshana Samithi jointly organised a massive protest and condemned the move of acquiring over 1,011 acres of land for the fourth phase expansion of Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (MRPL), on Monday, November 5.
The protesters claimed that the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB) is planning to acquire land illegally by not following the guidelines. They urged to conduct a detailed investigation of the illegal land acquisition process of Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board.
Karnataka Janabhivruddhi Vedike spokesperson T R Bhat, addressing the protesters said, “before issuing the preliminary land acquisition notification, MRPL and ONGC officials assured of paying compensation as per the package fixed by the state government. Hence the farmers gave conditional approval for the acquisition of their land. Later, at the time of joint measurement of land, a meeting was held between members wherein the officials promised that land losers will get around Rs 80 lakh to 1.2 crore per acre as per the Land Acquisition and Resettlement Act 2013. However, in the recent meeting, discussions were held to pay compensation ranging between Rs 50 lakh and Rs 55 lakhs as per the old guidelines. Land losers should not be denied their rightful compensation“, he said.
Dakshina Kannada district Deputy Commissioner Sasikanth Senthil visited the venue of the protest and received the memorandum from the protesters and assured of examining their demand.
Activist Vidya Dinakar, Krishi Bhoomi Samrakshana Samiti vice-president William, secretary Lawrence, Autorickshaw drivers and owners association president Prakash V N, Shabeer among others were present.
