Zuari Fertilizers and Chemicals Ltd. at NARASINGPUR near BELGAUM

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NARASINGPUR:
BELGAUM:Farmers in Mastiholi and Managutti villages in Hukkeri are contemplating an agitation on the lines of Halligudi farmers in Gadag district against land acquisition by the Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB) for setting up a fertilizer plant.

Zuari Fertilizers and Chemicals Limited (ZFCL) had identified about 1,078 acres in the villages ( of which 90% is in Mastiholi), for a 11.55 lakh MTPA uria manufacturing unit. The company signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the state government during the Global Investors' Meet held in June 2010. The company also promised to generate over 1,500 employments in the villages.

Preliminary notification for acquiring the land under the KIADB Act was published in the state gazette dated September 14, 2010. KIADB served two notices to the farmers regarding issue. However, farmers in the villages are opposing the acquisition attempts and have held several protests against it since then. "We will not vacate our land. The government will have to kill us before taking away our lands. The land earmarked by KIADB is used for farming,"

Hundreds of farmers from Mastiholi and Managutti villages in Hukkeri taluk, on Wednesday, staged a protest at Mastiholi cross, opposing the land acquisition process undertaken by the Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB).

KIADB has identified 1,078 acres of land at Mastiholi and Managutti villages to acquire for industrial purpose. Zuari Fertilizers and Chemicals Ltd., is going to set up a urea production plant on the proposed land at a project cost of Rs 4,565 crore. The company has already deposited Rs 40.30 crore at the KIADB in advance to hold the acquisition process. The approval of the land by the government is published in the gazette notification dated September 14, 2010.

District minister Umesh Katti visited the protest spot and assured the farmersof helping them in saving their lands at any cost. Despite the minister's assurance, farmers announced boycotting the TP and ZP elections and intensifying the protest. Farmers said they will never give up the land as it is the lone source of living for them.

reference:Times of india
reported by:Kashinath.Mokashi