Pics: Prajwal Ukkuda
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (MM/SP)

Mangalore, Jun 24: A meeting meant to devise strategies to fight against the proposed Petroleum, Chemicals and Petrochemicals Investment Region (PCPIR), organized by Karavali Ulisi Horata Samiti, was held at Woodlands Hotel auditorium on Monday, June 23.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Annaiah Kulal of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike lamented the fact that white collar workers are not taking any initiatives for fighting against setting up of polluting industries in the district. Environment Protection efforts would receive a boost and end results can tilt heavily in favour of the environmentalists, if the white collared persons like doctors, engineers, artists, teachers etc take part in the protests, he opined.

Meanwhile the youth, who get attracted by the lures of industrialization, should be educated properly about the grave environmental issues involved, he advised.

Pradeepkumar Kalkura, president of Dakshina Kannada district Kannada Sahitya Parishat, said, ‘We are not opposing development of the district. But non-polluting and local industries alone should be promoted in coastal Karnataka’.

Ajitkumar Rai Maladi welcomed the gathering. Environmentalists, social activists and representatives of various NGOs were present at the meeting.