Pics: Abhijith N Kolpe
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (ANK)
Mangaluru. Jun 12: The villagers of Balkunje, Kollur and Ullepady villagers continue to protest against the move of acquisition of over 1,039 acres of land by the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB), comprising mostly of agricultural land.
The villagers, whose prime income is derived from agriculture, are now in distress as they have nowhere to go. About 170 families are primarily dependent on the income earned through agriculture. It is shocking for the villagers as they never knew about the KIADB acquiring their lands. They claim that they never received any intimation on this earlier. This seems to them to have come to their notice out of the blues. People are now protesting unitedly against this injustice and striving hard to impede this action by KIADB, which aims at industrializing the entire land.
Yet, the KIADB is reportedly issuing notices to each house to vacate their residing area and also agricultural land at the earliest. The helpless villagers have had a strong bond with their lands as it had been handed over to them by their ancestors. They would never wish to hand this treasured possessions for the purpose of industrialization by the KIADB, which they have cultivated for a very long time.
The communities residing in these parts are mainly the members of the Koraga community and the area is regarded as a holy place. There are 42 deities and 10 daivasthanas in the particular region. Every year, the Koraga community holds certain rituals in Daivastanas at Balkunje. It is a holy place for them forever.
Speaking to Daijiworld, vice president of St Paul's Church, pastoral committee Balkunje, Freeda Rodrigues says, “It is disheartening to witness this situation. Various means have been adopted to acquire this land, which stretches to an extent of 1,039 acres for the purpose of industry. The population in these three villages are primarily dependent on agriculture such as rubber, arecanut, and many more. The land belongs to villagers for generations. How is it possible for them to part with their lands and sacrifice it for an industrial purpose? Many of the MLAs are not even aware of the land acquisition. Recently, when we went to submit the memorandum to the minister Murugesh Nirani, he did not accept it.”
Parish priest of St Paul's Church, Balkunje, Fr Gilbert D’Souza said, "Owing to land acquisition, the people of the three villages would be in great trouble and would have no place to go. This move by KIADB is just unacceptable.”
Gram panchayat president Mamatha Poonja said, "We will stand in support of the villagers over this issue of land acquisition. We were absolutely unaware of this action and the steps KIADB took to acquire the land for industrial purposes. Notice is being served to people to vacate their lands and houses. We will continue to fight against this oppressive move."