Mangaluru: Janjagruti Samiti takes struggle against land acquisition further

Bellevision Media Network

Mangaluru, 17 Apr 2015: Tokoor – Padoor ISPRL Pipeline Janjagruti Samiti convened a public meeting at Bhajan Mandir, Suratkal, near here on Thursday April 16, to educate the farmers fraternity on the proposed pipeline project that passes through Panja and Koikude villages.

 

The farmers voiced their anguish over illogical survey undertaken in their fertile farmland to lay ISPRL pipeline and unilateral decision to award compensation of Rs 2,000 per cents.

 

Janjagruti Samiti president Chittaranjan Bhandary briefed the farmers that KIADB officers acquired the land disregarding the norms set by the government. The proposal submitted by land acquisition officer to the government in 2013 is not transparent, because they had not convened a meeting with ISPRL, farmers and the government representatives. The people of all villages along the pipeline got to unite in protesting the pipeline project that would jeopardize their living, said Bhandary.

 

 

Meanwhile, the farmers of Panja and Koikude urged the district authorities to award the compensation for the land acquired in accordance with Land Acquisition Act of 2015, to employ one member of victim’s family, to reconstruct roads, drinking water supply and other basic amenities that gets disrupted owing to land acquisition, urged the farmers fraternity.

 

Suresh Shetty Kuttettoor said that farmland is like gold and they have every right to develop, but would not see the day where it goes wasteland due to laying the pipeline, said Shetty.

 

Panja gram panchayat president Revati Shettigar said that the peoples’ representatives are with the farmers’ fraternity. The panchayat administration will not allow any unauthorized projects at its limits.

 

The farmers formed Panja and Kuikude Janajagruti Samiti on the same occasion, to take the struggle forward. 

 

Venkatesh Bhat, panchayat member Suresh Panja, Mayyady, Satish Shetty Panja Bailaguttu, Ravindra Shetty Kuttettoor of Janajagruti Samiti and others were present.