Dist minister sponsored land mafia eying all land in Padubidri area

Special Report
MANGALORE : Even as all out efforts are on to set up the controversial Nagarjuna thermal power project in Padubidri area despite widespread protests, reports mention about the operation of a land mafia involving influential politicians which is moving heaven and earth to acquire the remaining land in the area at any cost.
What is all the more interesting for locals is that in this land dealing involving a cabinet rank minister of the coalition government in the state is to see two ministers of the same party, sending their bandwagon to the field as agents separately. One such team is said to have links with a highly influential minister.
Already the State Industrial Development Board has acquired lands in Mundkur, Ellur, and Nadsalu area of Padubidri for the proposed Nagarjuna and Suzlon projects and has handed over the lands to the companies to initiate the works. However, the process of acquisition of the rest of the lands is limping owing to the legal battle taken up by the Nandikur Samithi. Amid this development the land mafia involving politicians is deeply engaged in the task of acquiring private land in the surrounding Kerama, Gundlady, Bengre and other areas by willing to pay double the land value.
According to reliable sources, a state minister for industries of Andhra origin, along with another minister of his party, in partnership with a Bangalore based businessman of Udupi, is engaged in the land purchase business, as against a similar task initiated by the in-charge minister of a divided district by colluding with a former underworld don, and another accomplice of the latter. The agents of both these groups are reportedly led by a travel agency owner of Mangalore and a hotelier of Padubidri.
It is learnt, the gang led by the district minister had offered an advance of Rs 10000 per acre of the land which it was willing to purchase and two locals were appointed agents for his purpose. No sooner this news reached the rival group, it too launched its land acquisition drive by luring locals with double the amount mentioned by the rival group. At one stage, this group had even deposited Rs 2 crore in the local branch of a nationalized branch.
In the meantime, in a sudden development, one of the agents belonging to the district in-charge gang, shifted stance overnight and joined the rival gang. This culminated in him receiving threatening calls from underworld dons forcing him to quit his business for ever.
On the other hand, both the groups have fixed the land value at Rs 5 to 9 lakhs per acre in Padubidri and surrounding areas. Presently, it is said there is much demand for land on the western side of the Mangalore Udupi National Highway which the groups were purchasing on the pretext of IT and tourism. It has even been gathered that the two groups were engaged in similar land dealings in Bangalore, Karwar, Devanahalli and Sakleshpur too.
While initial works pertaining to Nagarjuna are being undertaken amid police protection, on the other hand, Suzlon, a wind mill spare parts manufacturing unit has slowly purchased land and is leveling land in its site. Where would all these developments lead to? Time alone will answer.