Silvester D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapur (SP)

Kundapur, Jun 17: On behalf of Agricultural Land Action Committee, a petition was handed over to the assistant commissioner, tahsildar, and president of the municipality here on Monday June 16, expressing its strong opposition to the move of the municipality to acquire farm land for the proposed underground drainage project. The committee says that farmers are fully dependent on agriculture for livelihood, and therefore, fervently opposes move to use agricultural land for executing underground drainage project.

Speaking on behalf of the committee, its conveners explained that the proposed plan envisages dividing of the town into seven zones and to allow the collective effluents to flow into the sewage treatment plant from where treated water is then pumped out.

"While we welcome the objective of the proposed plan towards making the town cleaner and more beautiful, we oppose anti-agriculture stance of the project and the total apathy it has towards protecting the rights and interests of the common people," they added.

The committee leaders say that as per their information, notices had been issued to owners of only four acres of land so far, although the project needs 7.25 acres of farm land. They added that even these land owners have no clear idea about the proposed project. They questioned the basis on which the municipality has invited objections, without even serving notices to about 50 percent of land owners. They demanded to review the project, save agricultural lands proposed to be acquired, and re-draft the project in a scientific way. They also warned of stronger forms of protest, if their demands are not met.

Convener of the committee, Rajesh Voderhobli, taluk president of Democratic Youth Forum of india, Santosh Hemmady, farmers, Nityanand Hawaldar, Babu Kailkerimane, Babu Poojary Shantiniketan, and others were present in the delegation.