Residents lay siege to MSEZ office; demand removal of mud dumped into Phalguni

May 3, 2012

protest


Mangalore, May 2: Activists and residents of Melakoppala and Athrebail on Wednesday laid siege of the Mangalore Special Economic Zone (MSEZ) office demanding removal of mud dumped along the Phalguni river near Kuloor and restore the ecosystem. The protest lasted four hours.

The mud had been dumped along the river for the proposed road-cum-pipeline corridor, which will connect the Mangalore Special Economic Zone and the New Mangalore Port Trust. The Melakoppala and Athrebail residents said this would narrow down the space for the Phalguni causing floods. Despite notices issued by the Coastal Regulatory Authority, the MSEZ was yet to clear the mud, the residents alleged.

The residents accompanied by the members of Citizen's Forum for Mangalore and Democratic Youth Federation of India arrived at the MSEZ office at Urwa Stores around 4 p.m. and sought appointment with the MSEZ Managing Director Rajiv Banga to raise their concerns about dumping of the mud. But the MSEZ staff told the protestors that Mr. Banga was not in the office. But the protestors refused to leave the place and insisted that they would not leave without meeting Mr. Banga.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Subramanya and police personnel from the Urwa station rushed to the venue. The Legal Advisor of MSEZ Premanand Kini told protestors that the ongoing work was done legally and there was no question of removing the mud.

Vidya Dinker from Citizen's Forum countered Mr. Kini and showed the notices issued by the Coastal Regulatory Authority to the MSEZ asking the latter to clear the mud. Then Mr. Kini and Ramachandra Bhandarkar, Public Relations Officer, called representatives of the protesters to come inside the MSEZ office for discussion. The protestors did not agree and continued to sit outside the MSEZ office.

Meanwhile, some of the protesters proceeded to the Urwa police station and lodged a complaint about Mr. Banga being missing.

The MSEZ officials then came out and told the protesters that Mr. Banga had difficulty in speaking the local language and hence was not comfortable in speaking with the protesters. The protesters then insisted that the MSEZ Managing Director gave in writing assurance .

Around 8 p.m. Sub-Inspector from Urwa Police Gopala Kotapady told the protesters that Mr. Banga had told him that he would be meeting them on Thursday at 5 p.m. near the Kuloor bridge.

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Media Release
April 7,2020

Mangaluru, Apr 7:  In the wake of COVID-19 lockdown in the country, a delegation from Highland Islamic Forum, Mangalore headed by Rizwan Pandeshwar, HIF Ration Kit Co-coordinator met Mangalore South Constituency MLA Mr. Vedavysa Kamath, Mayor Mr. Diwakar and MCC  Opposition Leader Mr. Abdul Ravoof on 6th April with an aim to join their hands with our local authorities in a bid to serve the daily wage earning families in and around Mangalore, during this emergency period. HIF delegation included Secretary Ausaf Hussain, Executive members Nazim SS, Adel Parvez, Nabeel Kudroli and Saleem Makkah.

HIF delegates handed over 300 COVID-19 Emergency relief ration kits to these local authorities, of which 100 each will be distributed to the poor in their respective areas among all faiths irrespective of caste or religion. The ration kits included grocery items and other essential commodities.

HIF Delegation said that Highland Islamic Forum is a prestigious charitable organization in Mangalore operating in the undevided D.K. District since last 8 years offering their hands to the poor and needy families of all faiths like food for the orphans, blood to the patients, water during the crisis time, relief supplies during floods, medicine to the patients, ration kits and homes to the homeless.

During the drinking water crisis in 2016, HIF supplied water facilities to more than 1000 families in Mangalore.  Two years back during the flood, HIF provided necessary commodities to the flood victims in Dakshina Kannada District. During the shortage of blood in Mangalore hospitals, HIF arranges blood donors camps and provide the blood to the patients.  HIF spends one day with orphans every month. HIF charitable activities have been well recognized by the kind hearted people in Dakshina Kannada District.

MLA Vedavysa Kamath, Mayor Diwakar and Mangalore City Corporation opposition leader Abdul Ravoof lauded the selfless efforts of HIF team in serving the poor and needy families in the society.

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News Network
July 2,2020

Mangaluru, Jul 2: Mangaluru BJP Corporator Manohar Shetty, who entered a manhole to clean a drain, said that he did it to avoid waterlogging ahead of monsoon as people were facing several problems for the past few years.

"In my ward, there is a rainwater drain at Kadri Kambla junction and for the past few years, there was a waterlogging problem due to trash water used to collect and vehicles used to find it difficult to pass in that area," Shetty said.

"Since there was a lot of trash it had to be cleared to avoid waterlogging. We changed our dresses, and then I along with my three party workers entered manhole and cleared the trash," he said.

The Mangaluru BJP Corporator further said that it was not a publicity stunt, and he cleaned the drain to solve the problem of people. "During elections, I had promised people to get the drain cleaned. Since monsoon was coming; something had to be done; we did not do it for publicity but to solve a problem," he said.

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coastaldigst.com web desk
June 20,2020

New Delhi, Jun 20: As part of measures to check the spread of covid-19, Indian Railways is likely to stop distributing blankets and pillows in trains to AC passengers in coming days and it will make arrangements for sale at stalls on platforms.

The railways already stopped distributing blankets and pillows in 15 pair Special Rajdhani trains and 100 pair of fixed timetabled special trains, which is being operted at present. The system of not distributing blanks and pillows may continue in future once train operations normalise, said the official.

Passengers are encouraged to bring their own blankets and pillows. However same will be made available for purchase at shops so that if passengers want they can buy it, said an official.

The railways also made arrangements to sell sanitisers, masks and gloves at shops. The national transporter also said sale price should not exceed maximum retail price.

As per the Railway Board circular to zonal railways, " Amongst the items which fulfill the needs of travelling public and in keeping with the emphasis for providing safe and hygine travel facilities to passengers, it must be ensured that take away bedrolls kits/items other COVID-19 related protective items such as masks, sanitiser, gloves etc are also made available for sale through multi purpose stalls."

All items should be in good quality and will be sold only at MRP rate, circular said. The railways has also permanently removed curtains inside the AC coaches.

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