Newindpress

Mangalore, Jan 12: Nagarika Seva Trust president K Somanath Nayak demanded implement five government-sponsored Environment Impact Assessment study reports prepared by various institutions before establishing mega industrial projects in undivided Dakshina Kannada district.

Nayak, addressing mediapersons here on Friday, said that those studies would guide how development process should be undertaken in the area without harming the environment.

“Negligent officials and people’s representatives have forgotten about those studies and are keen on developing mega projects including Mangalore Special Economic Zone (MSEZ), Petroleum, Chemicals and Petrochemicals Investment Region (PCPIR) and Nagarjuna Power Project in the region,” he charged.

He said that around 15,000 farmers’ life would be in distress if MSEZ project was implemented and around three lakh farmers would be affected through the implementation of PCPIR project.

“Moreover, government itself is not clear about how to provide large quantity of water, waste management and rehabilitation for the displaced,” he added.

It was ridiculous that those politicians who were opposing mega industrial projects during J H Patel’s government in 1994-95 were behind the promotion of MSEZ and PCPIR, Nayak said urging that those projects which pollute the environment and harm the life condition of the people should be withdrawn.