Mangalore, May 23: Residents of Melakoppala and Athrebailu areas near Kuloor staged a protest in front of the Deputy Commissioner's office here on Wednesday against the inaction of district administration pertaining to the mud dumping at Phalguni River carried out by MSEZ authorities.
Some of the protestors lied on the floor with white cloth sheets covered over them to symbolically say that if no immediate action against mud dumping is taken by the district administration, people may well die due to the flooding that is likely to be caused in the area during rains.
The protestors shouted slogans against Deputy Commissioner N S Chennappa Gowda and alleged that he was acting as an MSEZ agent.
Speaking on the occasion, Muneer Katipalla, DYFI leader, said that the district administration along with police is hand in glove with the SEZ authorities. “The Deputy Commissioner has become a 'chamcha' of SEZ. By allowing them to carry out their pipeline project with police protection, he has proved it. But we will carry on our struggle and are ready to go to jail”, he said.
Mr. Katipalla also said that the MSEZ authorities had not paid compensations to labourers who had died in an accident while traveling in a vehicle belonging to MSEZ. “A company which can shell out lakhs of rupees for bribing people and advertisements is not capable of paying compensation to the poor families of the labourers. This shows how inhuman and uncompassionate the SEZ authorities are”, he said.
DC assures visit to villagers' site
Following the protest, a contingent of villagers met Deputy Commissioner N S Chennappa Gowda in his office and sought answers for his order to the police department to provide protection to MSEZ personnel to carry on their work. The DC defended his decision stating that the MSEZ authorities are working as per CRZ guidelines.
The villagers led by activist Vidya Dinker argued that the project is a clear violation of CRZ norms to which the Deputy Commissioner said that the matter is in the court and hence, he will respond if the court asks him to. A report from the Ministry of Forests is also expected to be received following which it would be clear whether there is any environment hazard from the project, he said.
When the villagers pointed out to the DC that he had never visited their side across the river, he assured them that he would do so and listen to their problems.
Manhandled
Meanwhile, some villagers consisting of some senior citizens too, were not allowed to speak to the Deputy Commissioner who later complained of being physically manhandled by the police personnel patrolling his cabin. A journalist was also pushed by policemen in the process.
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