Govt's U-turn; MSEZ second phase called off

July 13, 2011

Bangalore, July 13: More than the farmers, it's the voice of the pontiffs which is feared the most by the BJP government in Karnataka.

Succumbing to the threat of an indefinite hunger strike by Vishvesha Thirtha Swami of Pejawar mutt, the Karnataka government on Tuesday denotified 1,998.03 acres of land acquired for a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Mangalore.

On Tuesday morning, the pontiff had threatened to go on a fast from Wednesday. By night, the government issued the denotification order.

Likening forcible acquisition of farmers' land to forcing people to change their caste, Vishvesha Thirtha Swami said the government should not acquire fertile land for industrial purposes.

"Only barren land should be acquired. Acquisition of fertile land goes against central and state government guidelines,'' he maintained.

On learning about the pontiff's plan, industries minister Murugesh R Nirani took chief minister B S Yeddyurappa's permission, requested the pontiff to drop the idea of going on a hunger strike, and announced the denotification — all in a matter of a few hours.

As the seer insisted on a government order, the government acted swiftly and issued the order by night.

The problem had begun after the KIADB, on May 10, 2007, issued a preliminary notification for acquisition of an additional 2,035.31 acres (including 37.28 acres of government land) for phase II of the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Ltd (ONGC) project . People and several NGOs opposed the acquisition, and the pontiff supported their cause.

The ONGC, a premier enterprise of the Union government , is establishing the SEZ near Mangalore. It is to set up downstream units for Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd.

ALL IN A DAY

Tuesday morning:

Pejawar seer threatens a fast if government doesn't denotify land for MSEZ

Afternoon:

Govt promises land would be returned; seer insists on a government order

Night:

A sheepish government issues the denotification order, double quick

WHAT NEXT?

The company will have to develop the SEZ in the already acquired 1,721 acres. The Union government has given its formal approval for this sector-specific SEZ.

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Flight cancellations strand passengers overnight at Mangaluru Airport

News Network

December 4,2025

Mangaluru: Chaos erupted at Mangaluru International Airport (MIA) after IndiGo flight 6E 5150, bound for Mumbai, was repeatedly delayed and ultimately cancelled, leaving around 100 passengers stranded overnight. The incident highlights the ongoing country-wide operational disruptions affecting the airline, largely due to the implementation of new Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) norms for crew.

The flight was initially scheduled for 9:25 PM on Tuesday but was first postponed to 11:40 PM, then midnight, before being cancelled around 3:00 AM. Passengers expressed frustration over last-minute communication and the lack of clarity, with elderly and ailing travellers particularly affected. “Though the airline arranged food, there was no proper communication, leaving us confused,” said one family member.

An IndiGo executive at MIA cited the FDTL rules, designed to prevent pilot fatigue by limiting crew working hours, as the cause of the cancellation. While alternative arrangements, including hotel stays, were offered, about 100 passengers chose to remain at the airport, creating tension. A replacement flight was arranged but also faced delays due to the same constraints, finally departing for Mumbai around 1:45 PM on Wednesday. Passengers either flew, requested refunds, or postponed their travel.

The Mangaluru delay is part of a broader crisis for IndiGo. The airline has been forced to make “calibrated schedule adjustments”—a euphemism for widespread cancellations and delays—after stricter FDTL norms came into effect on November 1.

While an IndiGo spokesperson acknowledged unavoidable flight disruptions due to technology issues, operational requirements, and the updated crew rostering rules, the DGCA has intervened, summoning senior airline officials to explain the chaos and outline corrective measures.

The ripple effect has been felt across the country, with major hubs like Bengaluru and Mumbai reporting numerous cancellations. The Mangaluru incident underscores the systemic operational strain currently confronting India’s largest carrier, leaving passengers nationwide grappling with uncertainty and delays.

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