Mangalore, April 27: Residents of Melukoppalu and Athrebail along with the activists of the Democratic Youth Federation of India, SFI and various other organisations staged a stir outside Deputy Commissioner's office, on Friday, opposing the move of Mangalore Special Economic Zone (MSEZ) of reclaiming river bank to lay corridor road.
Addressing the protesters DYFI District President Muneer Katipalla said that in the name of development, common man's right to life is being hijacked. Even the ecological system is being disturbed by the Corporates and at this juncture of time the District Administration should come into picture and try to keep the Corporates under control.
“Despite two notices served to the MSEZ by the Environment and Forest Ministry , the Company has not taken it seriously. District Administration too seems to be taking a soft stand on the Company,” he said adding that struggle will continue till the Company takes steps to clear off all the mud dumped in the area.
He hinted that since the local MLA and MP have distanced themselves from the protest, in future stir will be staged outside their residences.
Thinker T R Bhat said that Dakshina Kannada is heading on the way of Mumbai. “In 2005 Mumbai witness massive flood where several houses in Santacruz area were inundated.
It is said that encroachment of the water drains resulted in unprecedented floods,” he said.
DYFI District Secretary Dayananda Shetty said that District Administration is hand in gloves with the MSEZ and the two together are conning the people. “We will not let this happen. The Company will have to remove the mud dumped in the area and till then our protests will be consistent,” he said.Men, women, elderly along with little children took part in the protest seeking district administration to protect them from impending threat of artificial floods.
The protest started at 10.30 am and went on till 1.30 pm. The protesters later handed over a memorandum to the DC but on his absence the letter was handed over to Additional DC Dayananda.
The protesters, apart from demanding clearance of mud dumped on Gurupura river belt, said that the District Administration should come forth to take stock of the situation of the residents living at Melukoppa-Anthrebailu area. They said that the district administration should hold discussion with Company and the residents and strive to solve the problem.
Ramachandra Nakshathri, a saint from Harihwar took part in the protest. Hailing from Udupi, he had taken to sainthood after his marriage that lasted only for a month.
Nakshathri had completed his primary education in Surathkal and later on he moved on to Mumbai with his family. Dejected over failed marriage he decided to renounce the materialistic world and took Sanyas. Since last seven years he has been living in Haridhwar and since then he has been visiting various places in India. With a backpack, this 37-year old Sanyasi speaks Tulu, Kannada, Hindi and Marati fluently.
With lucid palmistry knowledge, he ekes out money for his travel through 'dakshina' for reading palms and predicting future.
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