Mangaluru, Jun 27: Karavali Karnataka Janabhivriddhi Vedike and Krishi Bhoomi Samrakshana Samiti have acknowledged and appreciated the chief minister Siddaramaiah-led Karnataka government’s decision to amend the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board Act of 1966 and align it with the central land acquisitions Act of 2013.
Addressing a press conference in the city on Tuesday social activist Vidya Dinker, who had spearheaded a movement against KIDB’s ploy to acquire farmer's agricultural land for MRPLs extension using an old law, said that said that the Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs, T B Jayachandra supported the farmer’s cause ever since the activists approached him in 2016 and finally it led to the government’s decision to amend what she termed as “draconian and outdated law”.
She said that since 2015 the farmers and activists have been exerting pressure on the government to implement the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act 2013 (LARR Act 2013) and represented the case to all levels of the government several times.
She pointed out that KIADB was attempting to acquire more fertile agricultural land for MRPL’s proposed Phase IV expansion project at Permude and Kuthethur villages even though nearly 900-acres of land acquired for a different purpose at Thokur already had remained unused. According to her, MPRL can use the already acquired land for its expansion.
Ms Dinker, who had called on chief minister Siddaramiah at Vidhan Soudha along with other activists earlier this month, said that January 19 the Deputy Commissioner of Dakshina Kannada district was directed to submit a detailed report on alternate land and whether the MRPL truly needs fresh acquisitions.
She said that the High Court of Karnataka has ruled that the State government can no longer acquire land under the KIAD Act-1966 without confirming to the prerequisite of the LARR Act 2013. She added that Section 3(1) and Section 28 of the KIAD Act, which empowers the State government to declare any plot as industrial area and acquire land are repugnant to the provisions of LARR Act and that this has brought relief to the farmers and residents of Kuthethur and Permude.
Ms Dinker also said that the activist would continue their efforts to conserve fast diminishing crop lands in Mangaluru which leads to corresponding decline in water resources, air quality and green cover.
President of Krishi Bhoomi Samrakshana Samithi Madhukar Amin, Secretary Lawrence D’Cunha, Bhoja and Hemalata Bhat were also present at the press meet.
Also Read: Vidya Dinker complains to CM against KIADB for using old law to grab land
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