Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Sep 12: Union minister for corporate affairs, M Veerappa Moily, felt that the state government was not in order in affecting denotification of land acquired for the second phase of Mangalore Special Economic Zone (MSEZ) in the vicinity of the city. Noting that the government was under pressure from heads of some mutts to withdraw notification to acquire these lands, he urged the government to review its decision.

“If the second phase of MSEZ is not implemented, investment opportunities worth crores of rupees will slip out of our hands. Development of the region will suffer because of this decision. Eighty percent of people, whose lands were proposed to be acquired for the second phase, had given their nod for the acquisition. The government should have considered these aspects before buckling under pressures of Swamijis. If industrial progress is blocked once, it is impossible to reverse this trend later on,” he stressed.

The minister revealed that a state level conference of exporters will be held during November this year in the city, for giving impetus for exports. Noting that there is a good port in Mangalore, and airport and road facilities are improving, he noted that this iscongenial for industrial progress. He added that the new mining policy of the central government will encourage use of iron ore for manufacturing end products here instead of exporting ore to foreign countries.

Moily said that the Prime Minister will be invited to inaugurate the second phase of Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd, being set up with an investment of about Rs 15,000 crore, which is expected to be completed by April next. He added that union minister for water transport will be invited to inaugurate the new berth coming up at the local port.

MLA, Gopal Bhandary, Congress leaders, K Tejomaya, J A Bava, and corporator, Bhaskar Moily, were present.