Land for MRPL; DK DC holds meeting with landowners

• Rs 2 crore compensation/acre demanded

Mangaluru: Land rate will be fixed by taking into consideration the interest of landowners and the government, said Dakshina Kannada (DK) Deputy Commissioner Sasikanth Senthil, speaking at a meeting of the landowners whose land will be acquired for MRPL’s fourth phase of expansion.

“The court has asked to fix the rate for land. We have to adhere to the court’s order. It is not possible to fix the rate for land by verifying each survey number. By keeping a village as a base, four times the market value of the land will be fixed. A good price will be fixed without disappointing farmers and landowners," informed the DC.

The DC said that though the farmland market rates at Kuthethooru, Permude and Thenka Ekkaru villages vary. The interest of the farmers will be kept in mind while fixing the land rate. The demands of landowners will be discussed with the government and the MRPL. Another meeting will be convened after four days.

“Along with fixing the rate for land, the authorities should finalise rehabilitation facilities. We want to know what rehabilitation facilities will be provided to us as we have are losing our livelihood," said a landowner.

Rs 2 crore compensation/acre

Samyukta Nagarika Hitharakshana Samithi demanded a compensation of Rs 2 crore per acre of land acquired or four times the market value in each village as per the Land Acquisition Act 2013.  The Samithi leaders also demanded that the value of the trees and other crops should be fixed by the respective departments.

“At least one family member should be given a permanent job in MRPL without age condition according to the educational qualification and previous experience. If those who seek employment in a family are minors, then free education should be imparted to them. The physically challenged member in a family should be given employment or compensation. The families that do not seek employment should be given a compensation of Rs 50 lakh," they demanded.

“Already 17.27 acres of land with more than 300 coconut trees have been acquired. We have not received any compensation for the acquired land. We will not allow the acquisition of our land. In spite of submitting objections to the authorities, they have written it as no objections," complained the landowners from Kuthethooru.