Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Sep 21: Dakshina Kannada district deputy commissioner, Sasikanth Senthil, has promised to disburse justifiable compensation to those who lose lands on account of the fourth expansion project of Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd (MRPL) within a month and also to take a decision about providing jobs to members of such families.

He was speaking at a meeting of land price advisory committee held on Thursday September 20 at the town hall here. The meeting was presided over by Senthil. The meeting related to acquisition of 824 acres of land spread over Kuthethur, Permude, Thenka Yekkar, Mulur and Kandavara villages. "All the preliminary processes about land acquisition have been completed. Because of various reasons including election, the meeting aimed at fixing land value was delayed. We should not further delay the matter. We will verify government rates and market rates for the land and will see that those who lose lands will get maximum compensation. We will hold discussions with MRPL and the government about providing employment to members of affected families. We will also decide about rehabilitation during the next month," he stated.

He wanted representative teams to be formed on behalf of citizens to participate in a meeting being held after getting suitable guideline from the government and holding discussion with MRPL.

Speaking on behalf of those who lose lands in the project, Deeepak Permude demanded payment of two crore rupees per acre of land, which is the market price ruling now. In addition, he sought five times the price for those who lose buildings, houses etc and job for one person from each of these families in MRPL, a rehabilitation centre under corporate social responsibility fund of MRPL, land for shifting of temples etc.

One of the land owners, speaking on the occasion, said that he is opposed to giving his land for the project and that when the officials approached him he had written that he has objection to the proposal, but the same had been altered by someone later as having no objection. He wanted an investigation to be ordered to find out the culprits who made this change. Several other land owners also spoke on the occasion on different issues.

Additional deputy commissioner, Kumar, officials of Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board and representatives of MRPL were present.