Mangalore: The Coastal Karnataka People’s Development Forum(KKJ Vedike) held a protest against exporters assembled in TMA Pai Convention hall on MG Road this afternoon, February 13 Monday.

The Vedike explained that the protest was because of past such programmes, encouraging mega projects in the vulnerable coastal belt. Corporate illegalities had been largely condoned, despite repeated civic complaints made against them. Local people were never consulted in such enterprises(MSEZ)either.

Spokesman T.R. Bhat pointed out that 17 years ago, lands were taken away from several families at Thokur, to set up ELF(now, Total) Gas company, but benefits promised to locals never had materialised.

Nine families were still waiting for a job each for a family, as promised in 1995.

Another 11 families displaced from their land, given to MSEZ, had protested now on MG Road, but the counterproductive MSEZ had ignored these Kudubi families and claims.

Legal adviser Vidya Dinkar and others were present at the venue.