Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (RJP)

Mangaluru, Jan 22: “The interests of farmers and other landowners will be safeguarded. They will be paid adequate compensation before acquiring land for the expansion of the Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (MRPL),” said state medium and large scale industries minister R V Deshpande here on Saturday, January 21.

Deshpande was speaking to reporters after visiting the Kadri Manjunatha Temple in city.

“Land will not be acquired in Permude, Kuthethoor, Thenka Yekkar, Moolur and Kandavar villages of Mangaluru taluk at the cost of farmers for the proposed expansion of MRPL. Welfare and interests of farmers and other land owners will be important to us,” Deshpande added.

Deshpande said that the affected people will also get jobs in public sector units and houses too will be provided to them.

“There will be no pollution from units that come up here. The MRPL will be investing nearly Rs 25,000 crore towards expanding its operation and improving quality of fuel,” he explained.

Referring to the objections raised presently by activists and farmers, Deshpande said “Similar objections were raised when acquisition was done to set up MRPL unit. Now people approach me for jobs in MRPL.”

The preliminary notification for acquisition of 1,011 acres was issued in December.

Activists and farmers have questioned the acquisition as this was being done under provisions of Karnataka Industrial Area Development Act 1966 and not under the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013.