Massive protest held against MRPL’s land acquisition for expansion

Mangaluru: Krishi Bhoomi Samrakshana Samithi and Karavali Karnataka Janabhivriddhi Forum jointly staged a protest against Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (MRPL) over the proposed land acquisition for the expansion of its refinery at DC office here on Monday, November 5^th.

The fourth phase expansion of MRPL has left the people of surrounding areas in deep concern of losing their land for the refinery expansion, said the protestors.

The protestors urged a detail investigation of the illegal land acquisition process of Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB).

Addressing the protestors, Karnataka Janabhivriddhi Forum spokesperson TR Bhat said, “Before issuing the preliminary land acquisition notification, MRPL and ONGC officials assured of paying compensation as per the package fixed by the state government. Hence the farmers gave a conditional approval for the acquisition of their land. Later, at the time of joint measurement of land, a meeting was held between members wherein the officials promised that land losers will get around Rs 80 lakh to 1.2 crore per acre as per the Land Acquisition and Resettlement Act 2013. But during the recent meeting, discussions were held to pay compensation ranging between Rs 50 lakh – Rs 55 lakh according to the old guidelines. Land losers should be compensation properly,” he said.

A memorandum of opposition to the move made by MRPL to acquire land through KIADB (Karnataka Industrial area development board) was handed over to the Deputy Commissioner Sasikanth Senthil by the forum. The DC assured to review the matter.