Land Denotification: Pejavar seer threatens indefinite fast

Bangalore, July 12: Pejavar Mutt pontiff Visvesha Thirtha Swami today threatened to go on an indefinite fast in Mangalore from tomorrow if the ruling BJP failed to honour its promise of withdrawing notification on acquisition of land for SEZ in that city by this evening.

"Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa met me three days back and promised to rescind the notification issued for acquiring 2035 acres by July 10. But so far no action has been taken. I will wait till this evening.If the notification is not withdrawn, I will launch an indefinite fast from tomorrow," he told a press conference here.

Likening forcible acquisition of lands from farmers to "forcible conversion of people into other castes with promise of allurements",he urged the government not to acquire fertile land for industrial purposes. "Only barren land should be acquired," he said. Acquisition of fertile land also goes against Central and state government guidelines, he maintained.

The seer said the land acquired in 2005 remained unutilised and no farming activity could be taken up since then.Banks too are unwilling to extend credit for agricutlural operations.

Pejavar Swami,who has been agitating against land acquisition for the SEZ and Nandikur Thermal Power plant in Udupi,mooted a statewide stir against acquiring farmers land for industries. He also declared support to farmers of Gadag who have been up in arms on giving land to the proposed POSCO steel plant.

Asked if he would fight land acquisition for the Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprise project, which has been entrusted with Bangalore-Mysore expressway and township project, the Seer said "nobody has invited him so far".

He set a three month deadline for the government constituted expert committee to study the 'health hazards' posed by the thermal plant in Udupi and submit a report and for government to act on it. "The government has given six month time to the Committee.It is too late. The committee should complete its work and submit its findings by Oct 2", he said.