Daijiworld News Network - Mangalore (AF), pics by Ganesh S Perla

Mangalore, Nov 24: The villagers of Ganjimatt here staged a protest against the decision by Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB) to acquire 154 acres of land for the second phase of Export Promotion Industrial Park (EPIP) here on Thursday November 23.

Addressing a press meet here on Thursday November 23, former president of the gram panchayat Abdul Majeed informed that the KIADB had already acquired land measuring 219 acres and compensation for the same had also been paid.

Despite the assurances from officials that no more land would be taken away for the purpose, fresh notices were issued to villagers to vacate their houses, without prior notice to the revenue department and gram panchayat, he said.

The land acquisition order has cast a shadow on many villagers especially those who have taken loans to set up new businesses or grow new crops. Several villagers are agriculturists who will suffer greatly if their lands are taken away.