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M'lore: Justice Saldanha Resents Imposing of MSEZ, PCPIR on Distrit

  •   Thu, Jul 31 2008 12:11:53 PM

Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Jul 31: Justice M F Saldanha, retired High Court judge, expressed himself strongly against forcibly imposing mega projects like Mangalore Special Economic Zone (MSEZ) and PCPIR on the district, against the wishes of the people here. These mega projects signify blatant acts of overlooking public opinion. Hence people should stop these projects from coming into being, by holding strong protests, he opined.

Speaking at a press conference held in the city on Wednesday July 30, Justice Saldanha said that these projects are being forced upon the people through coercive measures. They will be encroaching upon fertile agricultural land. These projects will deliver irreversible blow to the local culture, heritage and lives. A planned, strong and sustained protest should be launched to beat them back, he advised.

He requested the Bishop of Mangalore diocese to lend his support to the cause of the aggrieved persons who are up against these projects and join several other religious leaders who have already pledged support to the agitators.  These projects need to be opposed by one and all, he declared. The retired judge felt that the carrying capacity of the district as far as industrialization is concerned, has been exhausted long back and no more industrialization should be allowed. These industries are violating human rights, he pointed out and blamed the government for misusing its powers to acquire lands for MSEZ.

The fact that decisions are being taken at the highest level without taking local people into confidence, smacks of deceitful designs on the part of the authorities concerned. Under the SEZ Act, there is provision for de-notifying acquired lands. People can approach courts with a request to get their lands de-notified, backed by sound reasons. The people of the district have shown in the past that they are capable of brushing aside coercive acts. They need to stand united to be able to prove this again, he exhorted.

PUCL leader P B D'Sa was present at the press conference.
  

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Comment on this article

  • Rudolf Rodrigues, Mangalore/Mumbai

    Thu, Jul 31 2008

    I fully concur with Justice Saldanha's views on opposing the proposed SEZs. As he says all like minded organizations who are interested in the long term welfare of Mangalore and its outskirts should get together, form a strong forum and fight tooth and nail this hydraheaded monster called MSEZ.

    As Justice Saldanha says it will ruin the entire local culture, heritage, and lives of this once peaceful and beautiful city. And he rightly says the capacity for industrialization of this area is long exhausted and it can take no more load or it is going to collapse.

    In the garb of SEZ, extremely fertile agricultural land is being forcibly grabbed from poor and gullible land owners/farmers at peanut costs, and the same will be converted to concrete jungles and factories spewing out life threatening pollutants thus endagering/ruining the quality of life of the inhabitants of this beautiful city.

    Kudos to Justice Saldanha for taking this bold step and standing by the facts in an, otherwise, greedy and materialistic world which is only bothered about money & tommorow, and not the about the long term and of the welfare of the generations to come! Great write up Sir! We require more firebrand/upright people like you.

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Title: M'lore: Justice Saldanha Resents Imposing of MSEZ, PCPIR on Distrit



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