Krishi Bhoomi Samrakshana Samiti, a forum of farmers and activists, reiterated here on Saturday that it opposed any move by the State government to acquire more farm land for the expansion of Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd. (MRPL) projects.
Addressing presspersons, Samiti president Madhukar Ameen said that following series of agitations and opposition by people, the government in 2011 denotified 2,035 acres of land acquired in 2006 for setting up industries under the Mangalore Special Economic Zone (MSEZ). Now the government in the first phase was planning to acquire another 1,050 acres from the denotified land for the Phase IV expansion of the MRPL. The land in question is in Permude and Kuttettur villages, he said.
According to the information available with the Samiti, the government was planning to acquire 2,000 acres more in the second pahse covering Tenka Ekkar, Delantabettu, Permude and Kuttettur.
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He said that people in the four villages would not spare any land. If Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB) made any move to acquire land, people would once against start agitations, he said.
Mr. Ameen said that about 85 per cent of land owners in the four villages have in writing submitted their objections to the Chief Minister through the Deputy Commissioner of Dakshina Kannada. The same has been brought to the notice of the elected representatives concerned and top officials of the government.
In addition, Permude Gram Panchayat, in its general meeting on March 9, resolved to object acquiring land for MRPL. The gram sabhas of Permude and Kuttettur Gram Panchayats on May 5 have passed similar resolutions.
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Mr. Ameen said that according to the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, public hearing and social impact study would have to be conducted before issuing preliminary land acquisition notification.