Samithi strongly condemns ISPRL II phase - 7 villages suffer

Mangalore Today News Network

Udupi, Sep 24, 2014: The Kalathuru Jana Jagruthi Samithi has strongly condemned the second phase work of the Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves Limited (ISPRL). The second phase of the work includes laying of pipelines from Thokur to Padur under the Acquisition of Right of User in Land Act.

Speaking to media, Samithi President K Ashok Rao said the fertile agriculture land was destroyed for the project. In Udupi district seven villages — Padur, Kalathur, Belapu, Yellur, Santhur, Nandikur and Inna are affected. In Mangalore, villages like Balkunje, Karneere, Kavattharu, Athikaribettu, Seemanthuru, Talipadi, Keelpadi, Belliyur, Thokuru, Kuikude, Panja, Soorinje, Kuthetthuru, Katipalla and Bala will be affected. In Udupi, 12,89847 acres of land has been proposed for the project. Most of the farmers in the area are marginal land holders, Rao said. He alleged that the officials are misguiding the people over the project. The notification issued in January 2014 misguides the people by including Karkala taluk under the project.

As many as 88 survey numbers were notified in the 2011 notification but the second notification mentions only three survey numbers in Kalathuru and Padur area.

Grievance :  Samithi Secretary Lawrence Fernandes said that the survey was carried out unsatisfactorily. He said that though Samithi had approached District-inCharge Minister Vinay Kumar Sorake thrice to apprise over the issue, he has not responded. The Samithi had held talks with KIADB and DC. He rued that the project promises only 10 per cent value for the land for the land losers. The output pipelines is proposed from Padur to Thokur. The two other input pipelines are extended from Mulur to Padur and high tension pipeline from Nandikur to Padur. The people in Kalathuru were not informed of the developments. The land surrounding the acquired land is not permitted for conversion, Fernandes said. Ashok Rao threatened of protest if farmers failed to get justice.