MSEZ kept its promise of R&R packages, says Mayor
Title deeds distributed to the project displaced families in Kulai
'Unlike other mega industries in the region, the Mangalore Special Economic Zone (MSEZ) Limited has proved its honesty by providing rehabilitation and resettlement (R&R) packages to project displaced families (PDF) as per rules, said Mangalore City Corporation (MCC) Mayor M Shanker Bhat.
Speaking after inaugurating the property title deed distribution programme at MSEZ R&R Colony in Kulai near here on Saturday, Bhat said that though many mega projects came up promising attractive R&R packages to PDFs, most of the families were deprived of it. However, MSEZL has kept its words by providing R&R packages properly. “It is quite natural that people develop a sort of attachment in their minds towards their house and property. However, since changes are inevitable, people have to sacrfice for the development of the nation,” he added.
“Earlier, I was also opposing the MSEZ project blindly thinking that it was a real estate business. But now I realised that it is a part of nation’s development,” Bhat said. MSEZL authorities should try to bring non-hazardous industries like apparel manufacturing units, so that those beedi workers who lose job in the region can be rehabilitated, he suggested.
Speaking on the occasion, MSEZL Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer A G Pai said that a Public Health Centre (PHC) and Post Office will be opened in the R&R Colony soon after getting approval from authorities concerned. As per government norms, a PHC can be opened in an area only if the population exceeds 20,000. However the dispensary opened by the MSEZL in the colony will continue to serve residents, he said adding that a PHC will be opened soon after all PDF families settle in the colony.
Similarly, he said, a branch of the Corporation Bank will also be opened in the colony soon. Community hall, burial ground, crematorium and other facilities will also be provided in the colony to develop the socio-economic index, he added.
A skid mounted - prefabricated - compact package sewage treatment plant (STP) set up at Kodikere in the colony was also inaugurated on the occasion. The water recycled in the 100 kilo litres/day capacity STP will be used for the 3,000 saplings which were already planted in the colony.
ZP President Santhosh Kumar Bhandary, Deputy Mayor Rajani Dugganna, DC V Ponnuraj, MLA K Abhayachandra Jain, former MLA K Vijayakumar Shetty and Permude-Bajpe - Kalavaru Samyukta Hitarakshana Samiti President Bhujanga Shetty were present.
