Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Sep 10: Ex-state president of Kannada Sahitya Parishat Harikrishna Punaroor has questioned the credentials of Jayashreekrishna Parisara Premi Samiti president Tonse Jayakrishna Shetty in giving a clean chit to Nagarjuna Power Project. Shetty lives in air-conditioned house and moves around in air-conditioned cars. Does he know about the problems being faced by the people here?, he has questioned and charged the Samiti with misguiding the people.

He challenged Shetty, who has claimed that the fly-ash of the Nagarjuna Project is not harmful, to live in Padubidri region for a month in a simple house and find out for himself the actual problems. This will benefit a Mumbai hospital in the form of a rich patient, he ridiculed.

People have been falling sick due to the pollutants discharged by MRPL, BASF, and MCF etc. Does he know what are the problems faced by people living in the neighbourhood of these industries? Does he know about the polluted well water of these regions? Is he a scientist to declare fly-ash to be not harmful,? Punaroor has queried.

Major industries are out to destroy Tulunadu. Why is the district being targetted by them? How many locals have got employment here and if at all, what kinds of jobs are offered to locals? "We need not make our district a scapegoat for the upliftment of the country. There is enough space in other districts for the industries to come up," he explained.

Punaroor has warned Shetty to stop encouraging industries that spoil the environment and health of the district and also of the impending ire he will have to face from the public. He has called upon the people of the district to work for conserving the culture, land, daivas, Nagabanas etc., of the district, instead of getting deceived by statements being issued by people like Shetty.