Addressing a press meet, here on Monday, Samithi President Madhukar Amin said the Samithi comprises of four Gram Panchayats and has taken a decision of not to hand over an inch of agricultural land to the proposed MSEZ.
He said the villagers had already submitted a memorandum to the Government and Governor through Deputy Commissioner urging them to ‘denotify’ the already notified land from these villages for MSEZ.

Mr Amin said though there is a rule that agriculture land should not be acquired without the permission of the farmers, MSEZ Spokesperson and KIDB Officers have already started survey of the land without the permission of the farmers.

He alleged that they are involved in taking away the poor farmers land forcibly and  illegally and selling it to the rich industrialists.

Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha, Prajadhikara Vedike, Karnataka Pranthya Raitha Sangha, NGO Forum, Mangalore have unitedly decided to intensify their protest against MSEZ in the future, he added.

Threat to Coast
“Petrochemical industries will come up in 75,000 acres of land  in the name of PCPIR. This will have an impact on the coastal district,” said Chairperson of the Forum for Biotechnology and Food Security Dr Devendra Sharma.

He said “everyone should oppose the project which will pollute our drinking water and air. If we hand over agricultural land for industries, then we have to beg for food from foreign countries just like the way we seek their help for edible oil now.”

He called upon the media to play a vital role in creating an awareness among people on Mangalore Special Economic Zone .

Samithi Secretary Lawrence D’Cunha, Raitha Sangha District Secretary Sanny D’Souza were present.