Report and pics by Stanley Bantwal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Jul 7: Sri Eesha Vittaladasa Swamiji, head of Kemar Sandipani Ashram listened to the grievances poured out by farmers from Kudubipadav, Permude, who complained to him that they are reluctant to give their fertile agricultural lands to the Mangalore Special Economic Zone(MSEZ) but that the MSEZ is engaging in arm-twisting tactics to make them to vacate their lands forcefully even without making payment of the compensation, on Sunday July 6. He asked the MSEZ not to acquire the poor farmers' lands forcefully and warned that the houses of MSEZ officials who try to snatch their lands away forcefully, will be locked.

The farmers said that about 15.34 acres of land in Kudubipadav, Permude, has been annexed by the MSEZ without giving any prior information. Kudubi families, who belong to the poor and lower strata of the society, are cultivating land here. Teresa Noronha, a resident here, told the Swamiji that the MSEZ had been forcing her and others to either vacate the lands immediately or else face the bulldozers being hired by them to raze their houses to the ground. "We have filed cases about these threats, with the Bajpe police," she informed.  Other residents Devappa Gowda, Mallappa Gowda and Giriya Gowda from the village also came up with similar stories.  In a case of utter apathy, the MSEZ served notices dated April 4, 2008 on them on May 8, 2008 and tried to conduct land survey the following day, May 9, 2008, they explained.

The Swamiji accused the mega industries trying to acquire large tracts in the district, of trying to destroy Tulu culture. Citing example of Mangalore Refineries and Petrochemicals Ltd, he said assurances of providing employment to the locals in the industries like this in the past, have been proved false. The cultivators and the religious heads need to join together to defeat the ulterior designs of corrupt officials and greedy industrial houses. If agriculture is lost, the  entire economy slumps, he warned.

Warning people against the designs of a few people to break the unity of people and to pollute the environment which are both detrimental to the nation's interest and future generations, he advised everyone to come together and lend support to those who are reluctant to give up their lands for mega projects. He insisted, that every one has the right to protect himself and his property at any cost. He noted, that these people have been living here since generations and evicting them all of a sudden from their homes, will prove counter productive.

Jamaat-E-Islami organization head Mohammed Kunhi and Fr Vinod Mascarehnas, OFM Cap from Ujire, in their addresses, accused some people of causing divisions among people on the basis of religious beliefs. Every one should be vigilant to such designs and try together to ensure that projects like these which demolish the local culture and destroy atmosphere, do not get foothold in the region, they asserted

Social worker Vidya Dinkar gave some information to the people to combat the threat.

P R Bhat welcomed. William Pinto proposed vote of thanks. Madhukar conducted the programme.