MANGALORE : Sri Vishwesha Theertha Swamiji of Pejawar Mutt who was successful in
persuading the government to denotify the 2000 acres of land which was notified for the second
phase of MSEZ, has said that he was now concentrating on the UPCL problem and has set
October 2 as the deadline for the government?s expert committee to submit its report on the ill-
effects of UPCL on the environment.
The seer informed reporters that his next course of action would be after studying the report of
the expert committee. ? I am not against the UPCL. Let the promoters of this project admit that
the plant was affecting the health of the people as well as environment and initiate remedial
measures. Today, people cannot even grow vegetables in the area. The well waters in Nandikur-
Padubidri area are contaminated. The Government and the UPCL will have to first solve all these
problems,? the seer said.
The several organizations and farmers who have been active in the anti-SEZ agitation have
expressed their pleasure over the government decision to denotify the land. At the same time,
it has also disappointed many who were on their toes to sell their lands to the SEZ to make fast
bucks.
Welcoming the government move, social activist Vidya Dinker said ?We will now have to
question as to why the officials by colluding with the SEZ promoters had conspired against the
poor.?
However, Vikram Hegde, an advocate who was keen to sell his land to the SEZ says ?Several
farmers were willing to sell off their lands to the SEZ.? At the same time many famers
expressed their pleasure over the government move which has helped them retain their lands.
Related news: