Pejavar Swamiji Calls off Fast After Govt Issues De-notification Order
Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network – Bangalore (PS/VA)
Mangalore, Jul 13: Sri Vishweshteertha Swamiji of Pejavar Mutt has called off his fast against land notification under Mangalore SEZ, the additional deputy commissioner handed over a letter from the government relating to government's earlier announcement to denotify the 1998 acres of land for the second phase.
Addressing a press meet here on Wednesday July 13, the Pejavar Swamiji spoke on the issue of UPCL plant at Udupi and urged the committee studying the environment affects to submit its report by October 2. The seven-member committee, comprising two environment experts K V Ramchandra and Y V Ramakrishna, should give an unbiased report on the matter, he said, and warned that if the report reveals any danger to environment from UPCL, he will intensify his protest.
He expressed his happiness over the cancellation of notices of lands acquired for the second phase of SEZ works, and said that it would be model for the rest.
He further said that in the north Karnataka too the lands should be de-notified. It is the government's reponsibility to see that agricultural land is not affected - it should take up industrial development works only on barren lands and on its own lands, he said.
He denied that it was because of him that the government had bowed down. "It is the farmers' fight, I only stood by them," he said.
Regarding the 15.3 acres of land and another four acres acquired in Kudubi, where farmers are facing similar problems, he said the matter will be handled separately and justice will be done.
He also expressed his readiness to join in the fight agains Posco steel plant, if his help was sought.
He urged the government to follow the example of Gujarat, where development is taking place but not at the cost of farmers.
Jubilant farmers who gathered in large numbers in support of Swamiji welcomed the government's move and Swamiji's success by bursting crackers.
Earlier News:
Bangalore, Jul 13: The state Government on Tuesday July 12, made an announcement that it has de-notified the 1998 acres of land which was notified earlier for the second phase of Mangalore Special Economic Zone (MSEZ).
With this move of the Government, the constant protests of Pejavar Mutt Seer, Sri Visweshateerta Swamiji with the help of local people has made an impact with Government bowing down to the protesters.
Though the high level committee of the Government had taken the decision on June 26 itself, the final order was not issued. So the protest of Pejavar seer and the people continued.
Pejavar Seer on Tuesday morning warned of going on a liquid fast from June 13, if the Government fails to take decision before June 12.Following this warning, CM Yeddyurappa directed industries’ minister Murugesh Nirani to issue an order about de-notifying the acquired land.
Minister Nirani spoke to Pejavar seer over the phone and told that the Government has decided to de-notify the land and he also requested him to give away his indefinite fast. However it is gathered that the seer clarified that until the copy of Government order is not handed over to him, he will not step back from his decision of fasting.
Hence the Government in no time initiated the process of issuing the order and on Tuesday night came up with it – the notification order number: ci 306 spq 2011, Bangalore date 12/7/2011.
On Tuesday night itself the order copy was sent to the seer who left from Bangalore to Mangalore with the order copy and is expected to hold meeting with farmers and other representatives of various unions who supported him. He would also soon announce to give away the decision of going on liquid fast.