Palemar accused of stopping anti-sea erosion project, changing blue print of ring road

Mangalore, August 8: Former MLA K Vijaykumar Shetty has accused Dakshina Kannada District-in-charge Minister Krishna J Palemar of stopping the Geotextile Membrane project aimed to counter the sea erosion across the Ullal coast.

Addressing the media-persons at the District Congress office here on Monday, he said that Palemar had prevented this project owing to a “conflict of interest”.

Pointing out that both Mangalore M P Nalin Kumar Kateel and MLA U T Khader had written to the director of Asian Development Bank (ADB) to pursue the project, he said the project was vital to save more than 300 houses located very close to the sea.

“This move by the District in-charge Minister will cause trouble to the district and its residents. We request him not to stop the project”, he said.

“ADB has sanctioned a loan for the Geotextile Membrane project. A similar project has stopped sea erosion in the coast of Kovalam, Kerala. This project is a golden opportunity to reduce sea erosion along our coasts”, he opined.

Referring to the Mangala Corniche (Ring Road) Mr Shetty said that Palemar is misusing his power by changing the blueprint of the project to meet his personal ends.

“The plan of the ring road has been changed to go through an area where Mr Palemar has bought a land for a very low price”, he said adding that the original plan is facing a threat due to the “greed” of this District-in-charge Minister.

Mr Shetty also alleged that Palemar was plotting to achieve financial benefits by altering the plan which would destroy the very purpose of the road.

Referring to the mining scam of Belekeri, he said that all newspapers had published a report stating the involvement of Palemar in this scandal. But, strangely the name of Palemar is not mentioned in the recently released Lokayukta report. It raises a few doubts, he said.

However Mr Shetty clarified that his party stands by the report of Lokayukta.

Mangalore MLA U T Khader, MCC Opposition Leader Lancelot Pinto, Former Mayor Ashraf were present among others.