HC grants status quo on MSEZ work along River

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.