Mangalore, July 27, 2007: Krishi Bhoomi Samrakshana Samiti, representing the residents of Permude, Thenka Ekkaru, Kuttettur and Delantabettu, has strongly opposed land acquisation in the four villages for the proposed Mangalore Special Economic Zone (MSEZ).
Addressing press persons here on Thursday, the office bearers of the Samiti said the villagers unanimously oppose the process of acquiring fertile agricultural land, which is being done by harming their religious and cultural sentiments.
It can be recalled here that the villagers had formed the committee after holding a meeting within themselves on 22 last.
They had even refused to listen to Mangalore Special Economic Zone Chief Operation Officer A G Pai, who tried to clear the fear and misconceptions in their minds about the project during a Gram Sabha on July 23.
Samiti President M Madhukar Amin said a total of 2,035.31 acres of agricultural land will be acquired for Mangalore Special Economic Zone from the four villages, due to which about 3,000 families will be affected.
Out of 441.33 acre land to be acquired from Thenka Ekkaru only 3.2 acre is of government; out of 367.48 acre land to be acquired from Delantabettu, 132.33 is of government; out of 375.71 acre to be acquired from Kuttettur, 74.63 acre is of government; and out of 792.72 acre of land to be acquired from Permude, 82 acre is of government; rest of the land purely belongs to the farmers, he explained.
Bhandaramane temple, Taulava mutt, Pilichamundi daivasthana will be acquired for the Mangalore Special Economic Zone.
The property belonging to St John Baptist Church, Permude Somanatheshwara Temple, Shibarooru and Ekkar Kodamanithaya Daivasthana will also be affected. This will definitely harm the religious sentiments, Mr Amin said.
He alleged that the officials were giving false information by saying that 90 per cent of the villagers were ready to give their lands. None of the residents are ready to give up their land, he said.
Reacting to the recent statement of former chief minister M Veerappa Moily that the Special Economic Zone needs only 3 pc of agricultural land, the Samiti office bearer William D’Souza said satellite survey did not show the reality.
Let the politicians personally study the scenario and they will understand the farmers’ feelings, Mr Moily stated.
Samiti office bearers Lawrence D’Cunha, Yashodhara Shetty, S K Poovappa were present on the occasion.
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