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Land Owners in Karnataka's Udupi Demand Return of Excess Land Acquired by KIADB

Reported by

Deepak C N

Legal Review by

Edited by

Updated by

Published on

October 18, 2016

March 24, 2023

Edited on

October 18, 2016

State

Karnataka

Sector

Power

People Affected by Conflict

2000

Households Affected by Conflict

Land Area Affected (in Hectares)

260

ha

Starting Year

2006

Location of Conflict

Nadsal, Hejamady, Nandikuru and Palimar

Udupi

Reason or Cause of Conflict

Renewable Power

This project is a SEZ project to manaufacture Wind Turbines.

Land Conflict Summary

In 2006, Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB) acquired around 641.915 acres of land in Nadsal, Hejamady, Nandikuru and Palimar villages in Udupi district for turbine maker Suzlon Energy Limited to build windmills in these villages. However, over the years, the land changed hands to Synefra Engineering and Construction Limited and from them to Aspen Infra Limited. Notably, the villages were also been identified as Special Economic Zones since 2007.
In 2016, it was reported that Aspen Infra Limited was attempting to sell around 147 acres of the acquired land to a bidder. Land owners who had lost their land alleged that KIADB acquired excess land than required and that frequent changes in ownership had led to large-scale fraud. This was also echoed by social activists Lolaksha and Vidya Dinker, who highlighted how 641 acres of land were acquired by KIADB for Suzlon despite the latter's 'official' requirement of 150 acres as was publicly stated. It was also brought to attention that nearly 500 acres of land had remained unutilised.
In a 2016 report, Lolaksha informed that Suzlon R and R Colony Abhivruddhi Samiti had lodged a protest against the proposed sale by Aspen Infra Limited via a letter to Rathna Prabha, additional chief secretary, Department of Industries and Commerce. They demanded that all vacant lands should be returned to their original owners under the 'zameen wapsi' (land return) scheme.
Further, criticising the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Act, 1966, as a legal instrument to facilitate land grabs, the activists demanded immediate repeal of the law and for the state government to publish a white paper delineating various land allotments to the SEZs in the state.
From May 24-28, 2019, LCW spoke to several members of the Dalit Sangharsh Samiti with the help of Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha who reiterated their relentless demand for the return of the excess land acquired. 

Fact Sheet

Demand/Contention of the Affected Community

Complaint against procedural violations

Demand to get back acquired land

Other Demand/Contention of the Affected Community

Return of excess land acquired for the project

Region Classification

Rural

Type of Land

Common and Private

Type of Common Land

What was the action taken by the police?

How many people did the police detain or arrest?

What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?

Did the person face any violence while in police custody?

Did the person face any violence while in police custody?

If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?

If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?

Legislation under which the accused was charged

Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?

In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?

Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?

Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?

Details of sources (names of accused, names and numbers of any lawyers, names of any police officers contacted)

Status of Project

Project underway despite protests

Original Project Deadline

Whether the Project has been Delayed

Significance of Land to Land Owners/Users

Residential area

Whether the project was stalled due to land conflict

Source/Reference

Total investment involved (in Crores):

1000

Type of investment:

Investment Made

Year of Estimation

2006

Page Number In Investment Document:

1

Has the Conflict Ended?

When did it end?

Why did the conflict end?

Legal Data

Categories of Legislations Involved in the Conflict

Central/State Government Policy, Land Acquisition Laws, Other, Case Laws

Legislations/Policies Involved

Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Act, 1966
Section 28 [Acquisition of land under the Act.]
Karnataka Industrial Policy, 2014-19
Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013
Karnataka HC in WP no. 59461-59462 of 2014 [The state cannot exercise power under the KIAD Act without adhering to the provisions of the 2013 Act and the Rules thereunder]; Section 24(2) [In case of land acquisition proceedings initiated under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, where an award under the said Section 11 has been made five years or more prior to the commencement of this Act but the compensation has not been paid, the said proceedings shall be deemed to have lapsed]
Special Economic Zones Act, 2005
Section 4 [Notification of an area as SEZ by the government]
  1. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.

    Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.

  2. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.

    Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.

  3. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.

    Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.

  4. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.

    Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.

  5. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.

    Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.

  6. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.

    Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.

  7. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.

    Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.

Whether claims/objections were made as per procedure in the relevant statute

What was the claim(s)/objection(s) raised by the community?

What was the Decision of the Concerned Government Department?

Legal Processes and Loopholes Enabling the Conflict:

Controversial land acquisition by the government

Non-implementation/violation of LARR Act

Legal Status:

Out of Court

Status of Case In Court

Whether any adjudicatory body was approached

Name of the adjudicatory body

Name(s) of the Court(s)

Case Number

Main Reasoning/Decision of court

Major Human Rights Violations Related to the Conflict:

No items found.

Whether criminal law was used against protestors:

Reported Details of the Violation:

The local people have lost their homes, cultivable farms and have not been rehabilitated.

Date of Violation

Location of Violation

Additional Information

Nature of Protest

Development of a network or collective

Government Departments Involved in the Conflict:

Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board

PSUs Involved in the Conflict:

Did LCW Approach Government Authorities for Comments?

Name, Designation and Comment of the Government Authorities Approached

Corporate Parties Involved in the Conflict:

Suzlon Infrastructure Limited, M/s. Synefra Engineering & Construction Limited

Did LCW Approach Corporate Parties for Comments?

Communities/Local Organisations in the Conflict:

Residents

Information on the use of criminal law

What was the action taken by the police?

How many people did the police detain or arrest?

What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?

Did the person face any violence while in police custody?

If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?

If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?

Legislation under which the accused was charged

Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?

In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?

Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?

Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?

Resources

Resources Related to Conflict

  • News Articles Related to the Conflict:
  • Documents Related to the Conflict:
  • Links Related to the Conflict:

Images

Image Credit:  

Image Credit:  

Video

In 2006, Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB) acquired around 641.915 acres of land in Nadsal, Hejamady, Nandikuru and Palimar villages in Udupi district for turbine maker Suzlon Energy Limited to build windmills in these villages. However, over the years, the land changed hands to Synefra Engineering and Construction Limited and from them to Aspen Infra Limited. Notably, the villages were also been identified as Special Economic Zones since 2007.
In 2016, it was reported that Aspen Infra Limited was attempting to sell around 147 acres of the acquired land to a bidder. Land owners who had lost their land alleged that KIADB acquired excess land than required and that frequent changes in ownership had led to large-scale fraud. This was also echoed by social activists Lolaksha and Vidya Dinker, who highlighted how 641 acres of land were acquired by KIADB for Suzlon despite the latter's 'official' requirement of 150 acres as was publicly stated. It was also brought to attention that nearly 500 acres of land had remained unutilised.
In a 2016 report, Lolaksha informed that Suzlon R and R Colony Abhivruddhi Samiti had lodged a protest against the proposed sale by Aspen Infra Limited via a letter to Rathna Prabha, additional chief secretary, Department of Industries and Commerce. They demanded that all vacant lands should be returned to their original owners under the 'zameen wapsi' (land return) scheme.
Further, criticising the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Act, 1966, as a legal instrument to facilitate land grabs, the activists demanded immediate repeal of the law and for the state government to publish a white paper delineating various land allotments to the SEZs in the state.
From May 24-28, 2019, LCW spoke to several members of the Dalit Sangharsh Samiti with the help of Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha who reiterated their relentless demand for the return of the excess land acquired. 

Demand/Contention of the Affected Community

Complaint against procedural violations

Demand to get back acquired land

Other Demand/Contention of the Affected Community

Return of excess land acquired for the project

Region Classification

Rural

Type of Land

Common and Private

Type of Common Land

Total investment involved (in Crores):

1000

Type of investment:

Investment Made

Year of Estimation

2006

Page Number In Investment Document:

1

Has the Conflict Ended?

When did it end?

Why did the conflict end?

Categories of Legislations Involved in the Conflict

Central/State Government Policy, Land Acquisition Laws, Other, Case Laws

Legislations/Policies Involved

Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Act, 1966
Section 28 [Acquisition of land under the Act.]
Karnataka Industrial Policy, 2014-19
Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013
Karnataka HC in WP no. 59461-59462 of 2014 [The state cannot exercise power under the KIAD Act without adhering to the provisions of the 2013 Act and the Rules thereunder]; Section 24(2) [In case of land acquisition proceedings initiated under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, where an award under the said Section 11 has been made five years or more prior to the commencement of this Act but the compensation has not been paid, the said proceedings shall be deemed to have lapsed]
Special Economic Zones Act, 2005
Section 4 [Notification of an area as SEZ by the government]
  1. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.

    Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.

  2. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.

    Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.

  3. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.

    Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.

  4. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.

    Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.

  5. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.

    Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.

  6. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.

    Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.

  7. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.

    Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.

Whether claims/objections were made as per procedure in the relevant statute

What was the claim(s)/objection(s) raised by the community?

What was the Decision of the Concerned Government Department?

Legal Processes and Loopholes Enabling the Conflict:

Controversial land acquisition by the government

Non-implementation/violation of LARR Act

Legal Status:

Out of Court

Status of Case In Court

Whether any adjudicatory body was approached

Name of the adjudicatory body

Name(s) of the Court(s)

Case Number

Main Reasoning/Decision of court

Major Human Rights Violations Related to the Conflict:

No items found.

Whether criminal law was used against protestors:

Reported Details of the Violation:

The local people have lost their homes, cultivable farms and have not been rehabilitated.

Date of Violation

Location of Violation

Nature of Protest

Development of a network or collective

Government Departments Involved in the Conflict:

Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board

PSUs Involved in the Conflict:

Did LCW Approach Government Authorities for Comments?

Name, Designation and Comment of the Government Authorities Approached

Corporate Parties Involved in the Conflict:

Suzlon Infrastructure Limited, M/s. Synefra Engineering & Construction Limited

Did LCW Approach Corporate Parties for Comments?

Communities/Local Organisations in the Conflict:

Residents

Resources Related to Conflict

  • News Articles Related to the Conflict:
  • Documents Related to the Conflict:
  • Links Related to the Conflict:

Image Credit:  

Image Credit:  

Documented By

Text Link

Reviewed By

Text Link

Updated By

Text Link

Edited By

Text LinkLand Conflict Watch

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