Owners of land being acquired for the fourth phase expansion of Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (MRPL) have demanded that the government give a compensation of ₹ 1.92 crore per acre as reportedly promised.
In a memorandum submitted to Minister for Large and Medium Industries K.J. George, the land owners, under the aegis of Samyukta Nagarika Hitarakshana Samiti, said that if it is difficult to award the same amount, then the government should drop the land acquisition process.
Ronald Fernandes and Deepak Permude, president and secretary of the samiti, have said, in the memorandum submitted on Saturday, that before issuing the preliminary land acquisition notification, MRPL and ONGC officials met each one of the land loosers and assured them of paying compensation as per the package fixed by the State government. This led to more than 70 % of land owners giving conditional approval for acquisition of their land. Similarly, owners gave conditional approval for the final notification of land acquisition.
At the time of joint measurement of land, a meeting was held between Special Land Acquisition Officer, officials of MRPL and samiti members wherein the latter were assured of payment of compensation that will be four times the market value of the land. The officials then promised that land loosers will get around ₹ 80 lakh-₹ 1.2 crore per acre as per the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act 2013.
In meetings on September 20 and 29, 2018 to fix land rate, discussions were held to pay compensation ranging between ₹ 50 lakh and ₹ 55 lakhs as per the old guidelines. Mr. Fernandes and Mr. Permude said that land loosers should not be denied their rightful compensation.
The samiti members will be attending the third meeting of the price fixation committee on Monday.
Meanwhile, Additional Deputy Commissioner Kumar told The Hindu that rates of land were being fixed village-wise by taking into consideration the prevailing market value and also the compensation paid earlier for acquiring land in the area for other projects.
The State government issued preliminary notification in January 2017 for acquiring 1,050 acres of land in Kuthettur, Permude, Tenka Yekkar, Mulur and Kandavara villages. Land was sought by MRPL for expanding its production capacity, including setting up units for production of BS VI grade fuel. The final notification was issued for acquisition of 962 acres of land of which 824 acres was privately owned. The process is now on to fix rates for 824 acres of land.
