Of the 865.34 acres of land to be acquired for the fourth phase of expansion of MRPL in five villages, owners of 496.86 acres of land (69.75 %) have agreed to part with their land subject to conditions, including payment of compensation under the new Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act 2013, according to a report by Dakshina Kannada Deputy Commissioner K.G. Jagadeesha.
This report was prepared following directions from Chief Minister Siddaramaiah after the Krishi Bhoomi Samrakshana Samiti questioned the acquisition of 1,050 acres of land in Kuthettur, Permude, Tenka Yekkar, Mulur and Kandavara.
The Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board has initiated the process of acquisition of land.
While questioning the claim that 75 % of land owners have agreed to give away land, the samiti said that KIADB cannot use the KIADB Act for acquisition of land. The samiti members said that the land already in possession of MRPL can be used for its expansion plan.
In his report submitted to the government in the last week of June, Mr. Jagadeesha said that 646 of the 937 people who own 865.34 acres of land attended the meeting called in his office on March 16 and May 10 this year. Following the two meetings, 459 owners of land measuring 496.86 acres agreed to the acquisition process subject to conditions, including payment of compensation under the 2013 Act, employment within in one year of land acquisition, and proper rehabilitation and resettlement package.
Regarding land for MRPL expansion, Mr. Jagadeesha has noted the submission of MRPL that six acres of unutilised land with it was insufficient to set up units to produce one million tonnes of BS V1 grade fuel.
Mr. Jagadeesha said that the State government needs to consult experts in the petroleum industry and decide whether 1,050 acres was necessary for MRPL’s expansion.
While ruling out acquisition of land in Jokatte in the light of opposition from villagers and also because of thick population, Mr. Jagadeesha said that large tracts of land allocated to Jayaprakash Engineering and Steel Company, which has remained unutilised, cannot be used as it was not contiguous with the existing facilities of MRPL.
While stating that compensation should be given to land losers as per the 2013 Act, Mr. Jagadeesha said that legal advice needs to be taken on the validity of the KIADB Act for acquisition of land for MRPL’s expansion plans.
