Christine, Mangalore

We don't want SEZ.  Well done Villagers. Keep it up. Don't give the land. We want our mother nation which our grand parents left for us.

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hemalatha, mangalore

thanks to the students for their show of concern for the farmers. Farmers are in a pitiable condition today, all because of the wrong policies of our govt. that is ready to import poor quality food grains from abroad for a much higher price than the support price that is given to Indian farmers. We cannnot survive drinking petrol. kindly note that the industries coming up in the proposed MSEZ are mostly petroleum and petrochemical industries that require vast areas of land, huge quantities of water and depend solely on crude oil import which is a fast depleting resource and all of it mostly for export, making Mangalore a waste dump.

Do you think it is worth the pollution it creates and hardship it causes to thousands of people around, for the meagre number (4000) of jobs it is going to create as compared to the IT, BT companies that would be comparatively less polluting, less land requiring and several folds more job creating? Even if we can't till the land ourselves let us not stop (forcibly acquire their land)those who produce rice and other food products for all of us.

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Ramesh Salian, mangalore

Dear Jude, It was told that the SEZ is being set-up to give us jobs. But we know the real story behind, you do a web search on Haldia and Cochin SEZ. So we had to assure the farmers that we don't want jobs at their cost. The days of people cursing the govt for things not working is gone. Look at the state of our Highways and Mangalore Bangalore railway. People are not expecting anything from the government. All their plea is they are managing their life well without govt's contribution to that, and they don't want the govt to disturb that too.

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Edwin,

You are right that poor farmers sold their lands for good amounts but not all of them please remember. There are more than 70% who still live in their old houses of 25-40 years old and live there. When they feel they have the right to dispose their property, but not in the way how our government is handling it. I mean if not smoothly then forcibly even if necessary through using unacceptable means.

Please do come down and have a look now how it is done. Development we need as all others, but in the way how they do, but with mutual consent. Once you are on the chair of power, be understanding and with mutual dialogue try to solve the problem and not by force. Now a days even our local authorities are not ready to answer if we ask anything about this subject as they too are forced to avoid any comments or responses other than what they have told by the top leaders. They speak in two tongues. Once for government and once for people.

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Jude, Mangalore / Dubai

It seems from some of the messages that the readers have got me wrong. It is not my intention to see the owners of the land getting deprieved of the actual worth of their land. When land is earmarked /accquired for development then the owner should get the actual worth of his land. I am not against that. This should have been the fight of the students to see that the owners of the land get its actual worth and not against the project itself.

Whenever power goes off even for a little while in our homes, we blame the government and at the same time we oppose any new projects that are planned to generate extra power. We blame the government for not providing employment to our youth, yet we oppose these new projects which are designed to actually address that issue. And please Sirs, don't give me the excuse of poor farmers being deprieved of land to till. I have seen enough in and around my district when our dear farmers have sold their land for commercial development without any compulsion from an external source. In the end it is a money game.

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Jacintha, Mangalore

will you please join us in promoting life, and safe guarding the nature??? you are not too far away from this SEZ my dear, and very soon you will witness the effects of the SEZ , may be in your own house.........  travelling on cars and are all the other matter its a individuals need, and with out SEZ . at present its a tragedy to our farmers, fisherfolks, vegitable vendors, personally me and you, our future generation. can you join hands with us????

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Antony B. Cunha, Prmude/Oman

We all are worried about KIADB's proposed acquisition of our land for the Mangalore Special Economic Zone (MSEZ). The land price is sky rocketing day by day in & around the vicinity and an acre of land in surrounding area is costing anywhere between Rs.65,00,000/- and Rs.75,00,000/-. However, the land acquirers have fixed the land price much below the prevailing market rate/value. This kind of approach deprive of proper value for poor farmers land and such valuation without proper rehabilitation programme for displaced families will lead poor farmers into helpless situation.

Any development programme in the region should bring in prosperity to the local people but in this approach, I feel, the local people are the victims. In my opinion this type of mega projects will only widen the gap between shining and sighing India. We are talking about 9.2% growth but it is time for all of us to look at how other India survives. We have been living in this area for generations and hence, every nook & cranny/corner of our locality reminds us of our childhood memories. Therefore, this place is very close to our heart and hence, has sentimental value which can never be evaluated in terms of commercial parameters.

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sujatha, Adve,Abudhabi

yes, today every one does not want to be a farmer and wants to move out of the village in search of better life but no one wants to loose his ancestral property and home whch is the only identity one is left with to pass on to his children.

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joe miranda, Mangalore

It is heartwarming to see so many students coming together in solidarity with the farmers. It is possible to create jobs without snatching farmer's food bowl. And the SEZ act does not allow acquisition of agricultural lands. It is inhuman to acquire large tracts of land from farmers by using antiquated laws like the draconian land acquisition act. Why is it only farmers land being eyed? Will the city inhabitants keep quite if they are to be displaced?

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Venance A.J.Crasta, Udyavara/Bangalore

Our people of DK & Udupi are objecting for all projects which are coming up in the coastal region such as power, refinery, sez etc. Without industrries how the young generation will get job opportuniteis?. Otherwise the young generation should leave their native place in search of job to other places. Now days what you will get from agriculture? But we have to fight for the jobs, correct compensation for land etc.

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Ramesh Salian, Mangalore

Dear Jude, Please ask your company in Dubai, howmany people it has displaced to provide you employment. Most of the Gulf was Desert therefore there was no largescale land acquisition and displacement. Here too SEZ act talks of using dry land for development. But the Mangalore SEZ proponents have been showing agricultural land as dry land. Farmers are left with no option but to protest. It is the moral reponsibility of you, me and all human beings to support these farmers who are fighting against injustice. And that's what the students of Mangalore did.

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John Lasrado, Bajpe

Dear Benny, Nobody is blocking economic development. What makes you think that agriculture doesn't contribute to the economy? semi literate farmers and agricultural laboures of Permude, Kuthethoor, Yekkaru and Delanthabettu are self employed through agriculture and have been supplying milk, vegetables, flowers and other products to Mangalore city. they have never begged the goverment for anything. Your favourite SEZ or Energy company has nothing to offer them in the form of jobs.

When the Ministry of Commerce Govt of India repeatedly told the state Govts not to acquire agricultural land for SEZ using land acquistion act, why the Karnataka Govt is hellbent on acquring farmers land. Who is behind this? Economic Development and Indusrialisation is one thing- Corruption and land grab is the issue here. Please do check the facts of the case before passing blanket judgements.

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Jude, Mangalore / Dubai

Its become a habit for certain so called social activists to come in the way of development by citing environmental issues. This is also happening against some power generation projects initiated by the government in our district. How many of these so called activitists are willing to go without electricity in their own homes. Do these people think that the government has some magic box from which to pull out electricity or jobs and distribute to people around.

Development is inevitable specially for our district, where there are no opportunities for youth once they complete their education. People like us had to leave our homes to find employment opportunities elsewhere. At least today with the SEZ being planned there is a future for the new generation. All of us should join together and support such projects instead of hindering them for ones own selfish gains.

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Benny, Kalathur

Very nice ..Solidarity with farmers.....How many of those involved in the vigil wants to be a farmer.I am sure 90% of them will apply for a job in an IT company or an oil refinary or with an Energy company.Let us be open for a development which brings Mangalore in the limelight. Every body wants to breath a fresh air but travel in cars and mobikes which are poluting our town every day. No body wants to ride a bullock cart to safeguard the our area.Why...why all these hurdles for an economic development...

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