Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (RD)

Mangalore, Sep 11: The residents of Permude, Bala, Kalavar and Bajpe staged protest at Kana opposing the proposed acquisition of lands for setting up Special Economic Zone (SEZ).

The protest was organized by Kana-Kulai Nagarika Seva Samiti.  

Muneer Katipalla, district president of DYFI, addressing the protestors said that government has been engaged in land grabbing which seems to repulse the protesters who are voicing their genuine concern for their well-being.  Moreover all the pleas to deputy commissioner to provide housing for the hundreds of homeless across the town have gone in vain, they rued.

Though hundreds of acres of government land is available, Indira Awaz, Ashraya Housing Schemes are not effectively implemented by the district administration citing the technical difficulties in implementation.  However the district administration has taken up the most difficult task of land acquisition at the earliest for the benefit of MNCs, he said.

The MLAs who had gone on China tour seems to have studied the SEZ that are effectively set up in that country.  But there lies the need to explain this fact to the government.  If SEZs are set up in China’s mode in India, the tax-payer’s money of crores of rupees that is often wasted on foreign tours would be worthily utilized, he added.

Karunakar Shetty and Imtiaz, president and secretary of Nagarika Seva Samiti, led the protest while former corporators Vanitha and Rajani Dugganna, were also present.

Former corporator Harish K said that Kana and Kulai, are populated areas that lie on the outskirts of city, close to National Highway.  Hence they are not be suitable for land acquisition for the purpose of rehabilitating the displaced.  Moreover, the likely displaced would face injustice in awarding compensation for their properties held in the areas where the proposed SEZ would be set up.  Hence, it is better if the land acquisition for rehabilitation abandoned immediately.