MRPL extension: Land acquisition opposed

The residents of Permude, Kuttettur, Tenka Ekkar and Delantabettu villages, under the banner of Krishi Bhoomi Samrakshana Samiti, have written a letter to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah opposing the acquisition of land in their villages for MRPL extension.

In a letter dated January 21, the villagers stated that they do not agree to handover their land to the government and strongly oppose land acquisition by KIADB.

Land notified

A total of 2,035 acres of land was notified by the KIADB in 2007 for acquisition. But due to the opposition by landowners and farmers, the notification by the Commerce and Industries Department -- CI 306 SPQ 2011 dated July 12, 2011 --- was withdrawn.

As preparations are being made to acquire land, the residents of the villages are disappointed and have forwarded a memorandum to the chief minister through the deputy commissioner. The memorandum has been submitted by the members of Krishi Bhoomi Samrakshana Samithi, established to oppose the land acquisition in 2007.

‘Scrap the project'

The villagers have urged the chief minister to shelve the land acquisition as per The Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, which says that the government cannot procure the land if 70 per cent of the land owners do not give consent for land acquisition.

They have also urged the government to scrap the projects detrimental to the lives of farmers in the coastal region. The capital, meant to be invested in such projects, can be invested in research and tourism development to create better employment opportunities, they said and urged the government to scrap MRPL extension project.