Govind D. Belgaumkar

Mangalore, March 10, 2008: The expert committee appointed by the Union Government has imposed a condition on the Mangalore Special Economic Zone Ltd. (MSEZL) that its operations should not affect water resources of Mangalore.

The expert committee on Infrastructure Development and Miscellaneous Projects constituted by the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF), has said: “Adequate provision shall be made in the reservoirs to meet the requirement of water.”

The committee, which discussed the project at its meeting in New Delhi on February 28, has recommended to the Ministry to clear the Environment Impact Assessment for the phase-I of the project consisting of petrochemical-based industries on 1,800-acres of land, already acquired. The condition imposed by the committee assumes significance in view of the concern expressed by the Mangalore City Corporation officials over the large quantity of water which the project might need after getting completed.

The corporation supplies about two million gallons a day (MGD) to the SEZ from the 20 MGD being drawn from Thumbay vented dam across the Netravati River. The committee has ruled that the project promoters should dedicate 20 per cent of the project area for green belt development.

“The local Forest Department shall be associated for this purpose and requisite budget earmarked,” the committee has said.

The Expert Committee also said that the SEZ operation and construction activity should not affect the existing traffic of the city.

Source: The Hindu