Dumping mud into Phalguni: Pejawar seer backs residents' struggle against MSEZ

Mangalore, April 16: Vishwesha Theertha Swamiji, the chief pontiff of Pejawar Mutt, has expressed his support to the struggle of residents of Melakoppala and Athrebailu areas near Kuloor, who were demanding the Mangalore Special Economic Zone Limited to stop dumping mud into Phalguni river.

“The problem of these residents cannot be ignored. I will discuss the issue with Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda and urge him to find a fair solution”, the Swamiji assured the residents who were during his visit to the spot on Monday.

MSEZL has been dumping mud in the river along roughly the 1-km stretch to widen the KIOCL-Jokatte Railway Gate Road, which runs along the banks of the river.

Residents of Melakoppala and Athrebailu areas, which are located on the banks of the river in front of the road, allege that the level of water in the river rose by three feet after the MSEZL started the work. This has raised fears among the residents that the dumping of mud would cause unnatural flooding during the monsoon. They had given a memorandum to Deputy Commissioner N. S. Channppa Gowda in this regard.

It can be recalled that on April 13, dozens of residents staged a protest near Kulur bridge and stopped workers hired by MSEZL from dumping mud into the Phalguni river. Organisations like SDPI and DYIF also have backed the residents.

Swamiji said that MSEZL's act of dumping mud into the river is not acceptable as it not only disrupts the flow of water but also creates various problems for the local residents.

Melakoppala Civil Committee leaders Arun D'Souza, Sunil D'Souza, Dinesh Shetty, Latha D'Souza, Denzil D'Souza, Naveen D'Souza, SDPI DK district president Abdul Jaleel and Naushad Kavoor were present among others.