Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (RD/MSP)

Mangalore, May 29: The Kalavarpadav villagers succeeded in stopping the personnel of Mangalore Special Economic Zone (MSEZ) from carrying out works in their lands being acquired for MSEZ,  on the evening of Wednesday May 28.  The villagers were aggrieved over the fact that the MSEZ authorities deputed their personnel for carrying out land levelling work in the village, without ensuring that the compensation due for the acquired lands was paid to the owners being displaced.

MSEZ had acquired 18.60 acres of land falling under Bala gram panchayat, by paying Rs 8 lac per acre and has sold the same land to ISPRL for Rs 41.36 crore.  ISPRL which has bought the land for Rs 50 lac per acre from MSEZ, had deputed its personnel to carry out works at Kalavar Padav on Wednesday morning.  The workers had begun to dig 10-feet deep holes in the rocky terrain  around the village, duly stuffing explosives in 3 such holes.  They had planned to detonate the explosives for breaking the rocks simultaneously, despite the fact that many houses were located close by. The villagers, sensing the danger this would pose to their lives and property, came together to vehemently oppose their endeavour and force the labourers to back out. 
 
The villagers vented their ire on the personnel, since they were not informed in advance of the plan of using explosives near their houses, by either MSEZ or ISPL, although this posed great danger to them and their houses. 

The villagers were also resentful of the MSEZ authorities, for allowing their personnel in carrying out works on acquired lands, without paying adequate compensation to them. The personnel, who were entrusted with the task of digging holes by their employer, retreated from the spot, heeding to arguments placed by the the villagers, sensing trouble.

Bala gram panchayat president Lokesh Shetty, vice-president Gregory Patrao and Mohammed Kulai led the villagers in restraining the personnel from carrying out the task assigned to them.