Citizens’ Research Collective on SEZ

Mangalore, November 16, 2007: The reports in media recently regarding the environmental impacts of Mangalore Special Economic Zone (MSEZ) is based on various prejudices and are mostly wrong, said Chief Operating Officer of MSEZ Ltd A G Pai.

Speaking at an interactive session to discuss the various aspects of MSEZ at KCCI here on Thursday, he said that media need to update themselves on the matter and requested to publish the correct data prior to the environmental public hearing on November 29.

Explaining the process of land acquisition for MSEZ, Mr Pai said that 75 per cent of the land to be acquired is non-agricultural while 3 per cent in fallow and 10 per cent agricultural land. However, only 5 per cent of the land is really used for cultivation, he claimed. As of now, 1,721 acres of land has been transferred and the process will be completed by March 2008, he added.

Water for the MSEZ will be sourced directly from the rivers and there will be excellent water management facility in the project area, he said.

Elaborating on the rehabilitation of the people displaced by the project, Mr Pai said that the person being displaced from the property will be the most benefited. Well laid colonies will come up in Kulai and Thokkur for them.

Moreover, educated people among them are being trained in Karnataka Polytechnic in various trades with all expenses meted out by MSEZL, so that they could be employable once the industries start functioning.

Apart from the Rs 25,000 crore investment by ONGC, another Rs 10,000 crore investment is expected. As many as 9 IT industries will come up providing enough employment opportunities for the youths in the region.

Mr Pai further elaborated on Environmental Impact Assessment taken out by EIA and NEERI, infrastructural requirements planned in both the phases of development of the project, details of power and water consumption for each industry in both the phases, the socio economic factors related to the project, checklist of environmental parameters, environmental management plan and solid waste management plans.

source: Deccan Herald