MP for Dakshina Kannada Captain Brijesh Chowta on Sunday assured of providing adequate compensation to those who will lose their land to the Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited’s (MRPL) proposed ‘green buffer zone’ covering 27 acres in Jokatte and Bala Gram Panchayats and under Bajpe Town Panchayat.

He was speaking at a meeting of officials and representatives of land owners in the office of Deputy Commissioner.

The MRPL officials, in a release, told the meeting that the company has proposed to pay ₹80 lakh an acre as compensation. In addition, ₹20 lakh and a site has been proposed for a family (each door number) in lieu of job. The Karnataka Polytechnic, which did a survey on the MRPL’s behalf, found 408 door numbers on 27 acres, and it estimated the cost of acquisition at ₹93.96 crore.

Capt. Chowta said he was aware of the concerns of land losers, and he will ensure better package to them. Deputy Commissioner H.V. Darshan directed officials of the Jokatte and Balagram panchyats and Bajpe Town Panchayat not to issue any new door numbers in the earmarked areas, the release said.

Meanwhile, convenor of Jokatte Nagarika Horata Samiti Muneer Katipalla said the MRPL has proposed compensation on the lines of formula followed for acquiring lands in Permude for its fourth phase expansion.

Mr. Katipalla said the samiti opposed it as the Permude formula favoured large landholders, and it was disadvantageous to owners of small landholdings, who were nearly 85% in the three aforementioned places.

Following protests by residents staying close to the MRPL’s Coke Sulphur unit, the State government in April 2016 asked the MRPL to have a 27 acre buffer zone for the unit. Accordingly, the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB) earmarked 27 acres under the jurisdiction of Jokatte Gram panchayat, Bala Gram Panchayat, Bajpe Town Panchayat, and asked the MRPL to deposit ₹180 crore towards cost of land.

MLA for Moodbidri Umanath Kotain, joint director of District Industries Centre Gokuldas Nayak, KIADB special land acquisition officer Raju, and representatives of landowners took part in the meeting.