DHNS

Mangalore, Oct 30: The villagers of Permude succeeded in sending the officials back when they initiated survey for Mangalore Special Economic Zone on Monday. The villagers had unequivocally opposed the land acquisition process during Sunday’s consultation meeting.

One certain Santhan D’Souza, who owns about 5 acre land at Niddel Kodi near Permude had consented for land acquisition. Accordingly, KIDB officials arrived on the spot for survey. But, Santhan D’Souza’a brother Victor D’Souza opposed the move and there was a protest by the villagers.

The verbal exchange between the villagers and official reached the extent of physical strife at one point of time. The timely intervention of Bajpe Police Sub-inspector Ramesh controlled the situation.

Former MP Vinay Kumar Sorake visited the spot on his way to one of his programmes, but what he expressed there was totally confusing. At one point he supported the SEZ project by saying that the Union government has given the project to Mangalore which was ought to be given to Tamil Nadu. And at another point, he opposed the project and advised the farmers not to give away their lands for any reason.