Krishi Bhumi Samrakshana Samiti (Permude, Thenka Yekkaru, Kuthetoor, Delanthalabettu) severely opposing the statements made by the Chief Secretary P B Mahishi on his visit to Mangalore, in a press release, has informed him that the residents of Permude, Delanthalabettu, Thenka Yekkaru and Kuthetoor will not hand over even an inch of land to the proposed Petroleum, Chemicals and Petrochemical Investment Region (PCPIR) and Special Economic Zone (SEZ).

Mr Mahishi on Wednesday addressing the reporters had said that it is impossible to withdraw Petroleum, Chemicals and Petrochemical Investment Region and Special Economic Zone from Mangalore as it is a part of ONGC, which is established in Mangalore. He had further stated that there are confusions in the minds of the people, which will be cleared by convincing them.

In a letter, responding to chief secretary’s statements, Krishi Bhumi Samrakshana Samiti has clarified that there are absolutely no confusions in the minds of the people in the villages concerned. Instead, they are very clear about the fact that they would not be handing over their fertile lands for the projects at any cost ad hence suggested that they must immediately drop the SEZ and PCPIR project and denotify the 2,035 acres of land immediately.

The letter said that the villagers opposing the land acquisition had given a written objection letter, apart from expressing their contempt over the issue during the public hearing held about 4 months ago in the presence of the Deputy Commissioner and KIADB officials. Though the villagers had demanded for the copy of the resolutions passed in the hearing, no copy has been provided till date, in spite of villagers demanding for the same under Right to Information Act.

Need for Fact Finding Committee
The letter pointed that Mr Mahishi himself had said that the agriculture area being affected is about 26 per cent while the officials till recent days have been saying that only 5 per cent of agricultural lands will be acquired.

While the statistics kept fluctuating from time to time, one of the Environment Impact Assessment Report states that the area of agricultural land to be acquired is about 33 per cent. The fact is that about 50 per cent of the land to be acquired are fertile agricultural land. The Samiti demanded that a fact finding committee must be placed to find the truth in this issue. The letter further informed that the officials had informed that the 500 acres of land area will be utilised to provide rehabilitation for the displaced family while only 57 acres has been earmarked for this purpose. On the other hand the district administration and officials have been saying that one member of each family will be provided employment while the fact is that there are over 6 to 9 members in each family and providing employment to one will do no good.

With the international companies coming into SEZ primarily, they will not have any obligation to provide employment to even one member of these families. Further Deputy Commissioner himself in one of the forums had said that the employment will be given to only talented and eligible candidates.