Kudubi community expresses grievances against SEZ

Kudubi community expresses grievances against SEZ

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Jan 20: MP Nalin Kumar Kateel said that the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) must not acquire any land from the poor without first getting their approval. He was speaking at an interactive programme held at Sahodaya on Jan 20, Thursday in which a number of media persons and members of the Kudubi community had taken part. He said that he had opposed the policy of SEZ before becoming a representative of the people.

 

 

Further speaking about SEZ, he said that the people of Kateel had strongly opposed it when it first came to Kateel. Stating that land must be acquired from the people with respect and never with force, he said that A. G. Pai of SEZ is guilty of making false promises of jobs to people who lost their lands to SEZ.

Promising his support to the Pejawar Seer in his fight against SEZ, he said that he has not received any bribe or donation from those associated with the SEZ, adding that he had contested as a common activist even during the election and had not spent any money to win.

Speaking on the occasion, Moodubidri MLA Abhaychandra Jain said that he did not permit the SEZ to acquire even one inch of land in Moodubidri after becoming the MLA. In spite of its promises of providing jobs and training to its victims, the SEZ has not employed even one of its victims after four years, he said. Stating that people do not trust the SEZ anymore, he said that the SEZ, which has already acquired 1,800 acres of land, must stop its land acquisition activities and must construct its factories in the land it has already acquired.

Urging the district administration to provide justice for the members of the Kudubi community, he said that he will support the community because he can understand their problems, being an agriculturist. He added that working to give justice to the community is more important than making empty promises.

Permude Giriye Gowda, the senior member of the Kudubi community, said that the SEZ has forcefully acquired 15 acres of agricultural land by forcing them to sign documents. Stating that they have no education and that agriculture is their only way of making a living, he said that the SEZ officials have destroyed paddy and ragi fields by dumping loads of mud on it and have even contaminated their wells. Besides, they have filed false cases on members of the Kudubi communities in courts, he added.

Venkatesh Shetty, the member of Permude Zilla Panchayat, and victims such as Chennamma, Pushpa, Koragu Gowda, Shyamu, Mallappa Gowda, and others were also present.