The public consultation on environmental impact of Mangalore Special Economic Zone (MSEZ) project chaired by Deputy Commissioner M Maheshwar Rao here had to be ended abruptly. Representatives of some NGOs and villagers demanded postponement of the meeting as authorities had not given Environmental Assessment Impact (EAI) report in Kannada, the local language.

As MSEZ Chief Operating Officer A G Pai was explaining the studies conducted by competent authorities in the region, Leo Saldanha raised objection, saying as per rules, the EIA, the report should have been given to all the affected people in the local language 30 days prior to the conduct of public consultation.

Though the DC tried to convince the people that the authorities had given the summary of report in Kannada,  NGOs and villagers demanded they wanted the entire report in Kannada.

When KSPCB member secretary B Venkatesh tried to convince villagers along with the DC, several people did not allow the DC to continue the meeting.

At this juncture, the DC had a brief discussion with people’s representatives, Krishna J Palemar, Vijaykumar Shetty and former minister B A Moideen.

They tried to convince villagers, but in vain. Left with no choice, the DC announced he would close the meeting and walked out.