MANGALORE: The Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha, Kuthethur unit, and the Kuthethur Hitharakshana Samiti have urged the authorities concerned to offer a better rehabilitation package for families likely to be affected by the proposed special economic zone in Mangalore.

They have sought jobs for every educated member of the affected families and a resettlement colony for them.

Deepak Permude, district secretary of the sangha, told presspersons here on Wednesday that the authorities concerned had still not been able to meet the aspirations of the people who gave up their land for setting up of the Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd. in the 1990s. The company, since taken over by Oil and Natural Gas Corporation, too had done reasonably well over the years. However, the authorities had not paid any attention to the overall welfare of the families in Bala, Kalavaru, Kuthethur, Permude, Thokur villages who were displaced by the project, he said.

Stating that they had failed to provide basic amenities in the rehabilitation colonies, he said the families had also suffered both physically and financially due to the project, he said.

Even as these problems remained to be addressed, the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board had come forward to acquire additional land in Bajpe, Permude and Kalavaru villages for the proposed special economic zone. The board had not worked out any acceptable compensation package nor was there any concrete plan to rehabilitate the people likely to be affected, he said.

Accusing Special Land Acquisition Officer of the board Vijaya Kumari Shenoy of adopting a lackadaisical attitude towards the petitions submitted by families, Mr. Deepak urged the Government to shift her at once. Urging the Government to take steps to fulfil the demands, he said the sangha and the samiti would be forced to launch an agitation if relief was not given.

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