Addressing a press meet here on Tuesday, AHINDA working President Lolaksha said the KIADB has started its process to acquire around 200 acre in villages like Balepuni, Kairangala, Kurnadu and surrounding areas for the setting up private industries.
The land acquisition process which was started under Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Act Section 28 (1) should be stopped immediately and a gazette notification should be issued in this regard. The KIADB should provide complete details of already acquired land and its utilization, he said.
“Dakshina Kannada is an eco sensitive district and hence it is essential to protect the flora and fauna of the district. However, in the name of public interest, several families have been rendered on the streets by acquiring their fertile agriculture land,” he alleged.
He said the KIADB has already acquired thousands of acres in the district for industrial purposes. Majority of the acquired land remain unutilised even to this day. Without using the already acquired unutilised land, the government should not go for further acquisition of the land for private companies in the district.
“No mega industries should be set up in the district without carrying out carrying capacity study in the district,” he demanded
He said the farm land can be acquired for laying national highway, railwayline, airport which will be used by the public in case of necessity.
Karnataka Raitha Sangha district President Rohithashwa Rai Kulaibettu said “the KIADB had acquired 610 acre land in Kulai 17 years ago for the setting up industrial units.
However, owing to various reasons the industries could not come up due to which the acquired land have been left as it is.
The unused land should be distributed among poor siteless persons in the taluk.”
Samvidhanika Chaluvali Convenor Prof Rita Noronha said that the natural resources should be used for the welfare of the community.
“Unfortunately, owing to political policy, the fertile land is being acquired for industrial purpose. We are creating Industrial land lord system in the country,” Prof Rita Noronha said.