HC grants status quo on MSEZ work along River

May 28, 2012

Mangalore, May 28: The High Court of Karnataka has granted a Status Quo order on construction work on the road-cum-pipeline corridor by MSEZ Ltd. alongside KIOCL, KISCO and the Phalguni River, social activist Vidya Dinker said.

Addressing media persons at a press meet in Mangalore on Monday, Ms. Dinker, who is one of the petitioners who filed the PIL with the High Court to protect the River Gurupur from encroachment by the Mangalore SEZ Ltd. and to restore it to its original condition, said that it had been brought to the notice of the Court the resuming of work and mud dumping along the River by MSEZL.

“The MSEZL had told the Court that it would not encroach upon the River and spoil it. We brought to the notice of the Court that it had resumed work along the River on May 24 and that it was being carried out even at night at a war footing. We even told the Court that more than 75 people including children had been taken into custody by the police. The Court has temporarily issued status quo on construction work alongside KIOCL, KISCO and the River until the next order”, she said.

The Regional Director of CRZ has been asked to appear before the Court in the next hearing, Ms. Dinker informed.

Speaking on the occasion, Activist Natesh Ullal, said that Ms. Dinker and another petitioner Godfrey had been given arrest orders by Deputy Commissioner Dr N S Chennappa Gowda, who happens to be one of the respondents in the case. “We treat it as harassment and have told the Court that it was an attempt by the respondent to harass the petitioners”, he said.

Stating that although the Deputy Commissioner has been intimated of the High Court's status quo, work has not stopped at Kuloor along the River. “Now that it has been brought to the notice of the DC, it is his job to make sure that the work is stopped”, Mr. Ullal said. The SEZ authorities had been using goondas to intimidate people and get their work done, he alleged.

Responding to a query Ms. Dinker said that more and more petrochemical industries are looking to enter Mangalore which will only harm the region's environment. “Dakshina Kannada does not need such industries. It has been a small scale industrial hub even before the SEZ came into picture. It has contributed to the state commerce in terms of banking, fishing and other fields. There is no need for companies that cause environment hazards to set foot in Mangalore. Also, how many local youth have been given jobs by such industries?” she questioned.

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Mangaluru–Kasaragod bus fare rolled back after Kerala protests force NHAI to shut Arikkady toll plaza

coastaldigest.com news network

February 5,2026

Mangaluru: The KSRTC Mangaluru division has rolled back the fare hike on buses operating on the Mangaluru–Kasaragod route following the suspension of toll collection at the Arikkady toll plaza near Kumbala in Kasaragod district.

The fare revision had been implemented after the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) began toll collection at the Arikkady plaza on NH-66. As a result, fares for ordinary and Rajahamsa services were increased by ₹7 and ₹10, respectively, raising the bus fare from Mangaluru to Kasaragod from ₹81 to ₹88.

Senior Divisional Controller of KSRTC’s Mangaluru division, Rajesh Shetty, said the fares were reduced after toll collection at the Arikkady plaza was stopped. “The tollgate began operations on January 13, and the toll amount was deducted from the FASTag accounts of KSRTC buses operating on the route. Following an order from the central government to suspend toll collection, KSRTC has also withdrawn the additional fare with immediate effect,” he said.

At present, vehicles travelling on the Mangaluru–Kasaragod route pay toll only at the Talapady toll plaza. The toll for light motor vehicles (LMVs) at Talapady is ₹80 for a same-day return, while heavy vehicles, including buses, are charged ₹250. At Arikkady, the toll rates were ₹130 for LMVs (same-day return) and ₹450 for buses.

Protests against Arikkady toll plaza

The Arikkady toll plaza witnessed widespread protests from January 12, the day toll collection commenced. On the second day, an action committee led by Manjeshwar MLA A K M Ashraf launched an indefinite protest at the site. Except for the BJP, leaders and workers of most major political parties participated in the agitation.

On the night of January 14, a large number of protesters gathered at the plaza and vandalised property, following which authorities temporarily suspended toll operations. The BJP later also expressed opposition to the toll plaza and criticised NHAI’s decision.

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‘Nothing for Karnataka’: DKS slams Union Budget, flags Bengaluru neglect

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February 1,2026

Bengaluru: Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Sunday criticised the Union Budget presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, claiming it offered no tangible benefit to the state.

Though he said he was yet to study the budget in detail, Shivakumar asserted that Karnataka had gained little from it. “There is no benefit for our state from the central budget. I was observing it. They have now named a programme after Mahatma Gandhi, after repealing the MGNREGA Act that was named after him,” he said.

Speaking to reporters here, the Deputy Chief Minister demanded the restoration of MGNREGA, and made it clear that the newly enacted rural employment scheme — VB-G RAM G — which proposes a 60:40 fund-sharing formula between the Centre and the states, would not be implemented in Karnataka.

“I don’t see any major share for our state in this budget,” he added.

Shivakumar, who also holds charge of Bengaluru development, said there were high expectations for the city from the Union Budget. “The Prime Minister calls Bengaluru a ‘global city’, but what has the Centre done for it?” he asked.

He also drew attention to the problems faced by sugar factories, particularly those in the cooperative sector, alleging a lack of timely decisions and support from the central government.

Noting that the Centre has the authority to fix the minimum support price (MSP) for agricultural produce, Shivakumar said the Union government must take concrete steps to protect farmers’ interests.

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