Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (RD/AF)
Mangalore, Mar 6: 'It would be possible to shelve the proposed setting up of Special Economic Zones in eco-sensitive Dakshina Kannada (DK) district, as in Goa, if the state government-led delegation pressurizes the union government to abandon the SEZ whichs threaten the livelihood of natives and environment,' said Paveen Sabnees, crusader of Goa Anti-SEZ Struggle Committee.
He was speaking at the information camp for peasants on SEZ which was held at Billava Samaj Bhavan at Permude here on Wednesday March 5 evening, organized in association with Agricultural Land Conservation Committee that was formed by the representatives of Yekkar, Permude, Delantabettu and Kuttetthoor villages where it was proposed to set up SEZ on 2035 acres of fertile land.
The native peasants are unwilling to part with their ancestral properties. The peasants living on their agricultural land in the proposed SEZ locations including the Goa Anti-SEZ Struggle Committee leader expressed that there should be a people's economic zone instead of SEZ, since it would empower the people economically and achieve all-round progress in the neighbourhood.
B M Kumaraswamy, state convener of state Swadesh Jagaran Manch, Laxmisha Tholpady, litterateur and intellectual, Natesh Ullal, organizer, Atrady Amratha Shetty, state Peoples Democratic Forum and other resource persons spoke on the occasion.
Zilla panchayat members, taluk panchayat president and vice president, representatives of gram panchayats of Yekkar, Permude, Delantabettu and Kuttetthoor extended their support to peasants' struggle staged by Agricultural Land Conservation Committee.
Nalin Kumar Kateel, chief secretary of DK district BJP, who was present at the meet, announced that DK district BJP had already taken the decision to get national support for the peasants' struggle.
The meet was chaired by Shreeyala G Hegde, taluk panchayat president. The day-long information camp and public meeting was attended by representatives of various social welfare and voluntary organizations including a large gathering of peasants.