Daijiworld Media Network – Karwar (SP)

Karwar, Mar 27: State Human Rights Commission chairman, S R Nayak, expressed anger and resentment at the way the ore companies had violated law and encroached upon the sea without any permission, at Belekeri port near there.

During his visit to Belekeri port in Ankola taluk near here on Friday March 26, Nayak questioned the port officials as to why they had not obstructed Coastal Services Company from unathorizedly dumping sand and stones into the sea for creating a jetty, without any prior licence or permission.

“For building a jetty, permission of the union environment and forest ministry, in addition to the Coastal Regulary Zone approval, are required. But Coastal Services Company does not hold any of these permissions. You are sitting and watching quiety, as they dump mud and stones into the sea. The ore companies have even been trying to invade the sea, and I know that they draw support from the rulers,” Nayak remarked.

He instructed the port officials to submit a detailed report on the construction of jetty in violation of law, stipulating that the report should contain details of land area encroached upon, licences if any the company holds etc. “This report will be placed before the government. If the government fails to take action, the Commission will file complaint in the High Court or Supreme Court under Human Rights Protection Act 1993,” he added.

Ports department officer, Capt Swamy, district deputy commissioner, Raman Gupta, additional deputy commissioner, Dr Narasimhamurty, mines and geology department deputy director, Nidagundi, etc., were present.