Vinay Kumar Sorake threatens to launch agitation against industries in Udupi

Udupi, May 7: Major industries that are setting up outlets in Udupi district are neither providing employment to local people nor providing basic facilities, complained Vinay Kumar Sorake, Minister for Urban Development and Udupi district-in-charge.

Speaking after inaugurating various works at Mudrangady village in Udupi district, the minister said that the industries caused pollution and they were not providing facilities under their corporate social responsibility activities. Some were not even paying taxes to the gram panchayats.

“If the industries failed to provide facilities, it would be inevitable that an agitation would be launched. Such industries should change their stand or else be prepared to face protests,” he said.

Rs. 88 crore had been sanctioned to the district under the ‘Namma Grama Namma Raste’ scheme and this would help to construct roads in rural areas and Rs. 4.12 crore would be spent on constructing a road from Mudrangady to Santhur.

The main road in Mudrangady would be widened at a cost of Rs. 1.65 crore. A separate committee would be formed for the development of Mudrangady, Mr. Sorake said.

Ivan D’Souza, MLC, said that a modern fish market would be constructed at Mudrangady at a cost of Rs. 69 lakh.

An open-air theatre, community hall and a pre-university college would be constructed in the village. He would provide Rs. 1 crore from his Legislator’s Local Area Development Fund for various development works in the village, he said.