Citizens’ Research Collective on SEZ

Mangalore, Feb. 3, 2008: Some villagers, who will be losing their land to the proposed Mangalore Special Economic Zone, have opposed the move to acquire land for the project.

Participating in a public discussion — convened by the Technical Committee of the Expert Committee for Infrastructure Development and Miscellaneous Project, Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India — here on Saturday, they said that the agriculture in the area should be strengthened and it should be declared as ’special agriculture zone’.

Mr Sunny D’Souza, Secretary of the Karnataka Rajya Raita Sangha (KRRS), Dakshina Kannada unit, said that farmers are not ready to handover their land to the project. Instead of proceeding with the land acquisition process, the Government can think of improving agricultural activities in the region.
Organic products

Stating that organic agricultural produces have good demand worldwide, he said the Government should encourage organic farming in the area. Cashew industry can get a boost, if attempts are made to provide impetus to the cashew cultivation in the area.

Echoing the views of Mr D’Souza, Mr Gregory Patrao, Vice-President of Bala village panchayat, said that the Government should consider creating the ’special agriculture zone’.

Mr K. Dinesh Pai, representative of a local NGO, urged the Government to reject the EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment) report on the project. He termed the report as incomplete.

Ms Manorama Madhwaraj, Member of Parliament from Udupi, said that as the villagers of the region do not want the project, the Government should not proceed further on the issue. When Mr K. Narasimha Prabhu, President of Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), rose to submit the views of the KCCI on the issue, villagers said that he should not be allowed to speak, as KCCI is a stakeholder in the MSEZ Ltd.

A five-member technical team, headed by Dr R.P. Garg, conducted the public discussion.

Source: The Hindu