The Hindu

Mangalore, Feb 1: Residents of Shanti Gudde near Bajpe, who were demanding that their lands be acquired for Mangalore Special Economic Zone(MSEZ) project, are said to have been assured by Deputy Commissioner M. Maheshwar Rao on Thursday that their demand will be met. There was a closed-door meeting between the people and Mr. Rao on Thursday, according to sources.

Former MLA Krishna Palemar and Bajpe gram panchayat president Harinakshi represented the people of Shanti Gudde. Speaking to The Hindu after the twenty-minute meeting, Mr. Palemar hinted that there might be some modifications in the compensation package for the 110 families of Shanti Gudde if their lands get acquired. “None of these people have more than 10 cents of land. So the package being given to large land holders and farmers cannot be given to these people,” he said.

Krishna Raj, a resident of Shanti Gudde who met Mr. Rao, said: “We want full compensation, nothing less.”

The eight-acres of land that form Shanti Gudde , also known as Shanti Nagar, was initially notified for the 4000-acre MSEZ project but subsequently dropped.

The cost of rehabilitating nearly 1000 inhabitants was rendering the acquisition non-viable, an official said.