Govt's U-turn; MSEZ second phase called off

Bangalore, July 13: More than the farmers, it's the voice of the pontiffs which is feared the most by the BJP government in Karnataka.

Succumbing to the threat of an indefinite hunger strike by Vishvesha Thirtha Swami of Pejawar mutt, the Karnataka government on Tuesday denotified 1,998.03 acres of land acquired for a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Mangalore.

On Tuesday morning, the pontiff had threatened to go on a fast from Wednesday. By night, the government issued the denotification order.

Likening forcible acquisition of farmers' land to forcing people to change their caste, Vishvesha Thirtha Swami said the government should not acquire fertile land for industrial purposes.

"Only barren land should be acquired. Acquisition of fertile land goes against central and state government guidelines,'' he maintained.

On learning about the pontiff's plan, industries minister Murugesh R Nirani took chief minister B S Yeddyurappa's permission, requested the pontiff to drop the idea of going on a hunger strike, and announced the denotification — all in a matter of a few hours.

As the seer insisted on a government order, the government acted swiftly and issued the order by night.

The problem had begun after the KIADB, on May 10, 2007, issued a preliminary notification for acquisition of an additional 2,035.31 acres (including 37.28 acres of government land) for phase II of the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Ltd (ONGC) project . People and several NGOs opposed the acquisition, and the pontiff supported their cause.

The ONGC, a premier enterprise of the Union government , is establishing the SEZ near Mangalore. It is to set up downstream units for Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd.

ALL IN A DAY

Tuesday morning:

Pejawar seer threatens a fast if government doesn't denotify land for MSEZ

Afternoon:

Govt promises land would be returned; seer insists on a government order

Night:

A sheepish government issues the denotification order, double quick

WHAT NEXT?

The company will have to develop the SEZ in the already acquired 1,721 acres. The Union government has given its formal approval for this sector-specific SEZ.