Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Monday has declared that the government will not forcibly and directly occupy the agricultural land from the farmers for the proposed Special Economic Zone (SEZ) project in Mangalore.
“Circulars have been issued in this direction. Government is mulling over formulating a new policy too,” he said.
Addressing the public after laying foundation stones for different development projects of an estimated Rs 23.72 crore and inaugurating projects completed at an expenditure of Rs 3.15 crore in Bantwal and Vittal Assembly constituencies, he said farmers need not have any apprehension regarding forcible land acquisition.
“They need not think that the government is going to make them refugees by occupying their fertile land for lesser amount. The private firms will directly approach the farmers and negotiate the land rates. Only after convincing the farmers and finalising the land rates, the land will be acquired,” he assured.
Dakshina Kannada has stood second in attracting investors and overall development, next only to Bangalore. Hence the government has taken the infrastructure development in the region on a priority basis. Projects totalling Rs 250 crore have kicked off in the district, he noted.
Deputy Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa, who inaugurated the function, said the government has given strict instruction to all departments that any project getting foundation stone laid should be completed in the same year.
Delineating on the successful schemes of the State, he said the coalition government has achieved something which any other governments could not achieve during their 58-year -long rule in the post-independent era.
“The power was just for the fulfilment of personal requirements but not for the service of the common men,” he taunted. From education to the agricultural sector, from rural development to women empowerment, the coalition government has achieved greater strides. No other State in India has introduced a scheme like Bhagyalakshmi, Mr Yediyurappa pointed out.
In his address, MP and State BJP President D V Sadananda Gowda demanded that the government should announce a compensation of Rs 10,000 per acre to the areca growers in order to help them in their dire straits.
District-in-Charge Minister B Nagaraj Shetty, MLA Padmanabha Kottari, ZP President Sushma Janardhan were present.
