Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Sep 6: Dakshina Kannada district in-charge minister, Krishna J Palemar, said that no new large scale industries will be allowed to be set up in the district. He promised to raise this issue at the next cabinet meeting.

Speaking to reporters at Gundia on Sunday September 5, he accused the large scale industries that were permitted to be set up here, of failing to keep up the promises made by them earlier. He charged these industries of being primarily responsible for the city being branded as one of the most polluted ones in the state.

“These industries have not even kept up their promise of providing jobs to the local candidates. Although some have been chosen for employment training, they have not been given a guarantee of employment. A few candidates chosen by the companies have been given minor jobs like watering of flower plants and repairing of television sets,” he charged.

The minister pointed out that elsewhere, large scale industries earmark a big chunk of their profits for undertaking social welfare measures in their respective regions. “Have these companies spent money for social welfare? If so, for what purposes?” he questioned. He also promised not to allow the second phase of Mangalore Special Economic Zone to be set up in the district.

He revealed that the district administration, which has banned the use of plastic products with a thickness of up to 20 microns as of now, will shortly issue orders, extending the ban to products of thickness up to 40 microns.  “If Gundia hydro electric power project of the central government is cancelled, I will be happy. The state will not propose the central government to go ahead with the project. Our aim is not to give a go ahead to projects that create apprehensions in the minds of the local people,” he claimed.