JOIN US‘80 pc people in area will have to give nod before taking up project’
Congress candidate for Dakshina Kannada constituency Janardhan Poojary has said that if the people of the district oppose Petroleum, Chemicals and Petrochemicals Investment Region (PCPIR), then the Congress will not implement it in Karnataka.
There is a proposal to implement PCPIR in nine districts of Karnataka, covering 241 km area. Speaking to mediapersons here on Tuesday, he said that the PCPIR will generate 15 lakh employment and will help in eradicating unemployment.
“However, we will not implement any project, that is harmful to the people of the district. We will not forcibly acquire land from farmers to set up PCPIR. Eighty per cent of the population in the area where it will come up will have to give their nod before taking up the project. At the same time, as per new Land Acquisition Act, four times of the market value should be paid for the land owners and employment should be provided to those who lose land.”
To a query on Yettinahole project, Poojary said that Yettinahole project should not be implemented at any cost. “There are alternatives to Yettinahole project. The people of parched districts have been demanding permanent drinking water project rather than Yettinahole drinking water project. The project was for self-gain of few leaders.”
Committed mistake
Poojary has said that the Congress had committed a mistake by indcucting Dinakar Shetty, one of the accused in the infamous Mangalore pub attack and the District Congress Committee denied membership to Shetty within seven hours after he was inducted into party fold at a convention on Monday.
Shetty, who spearheaded activities under the guidance of Pramod Muthalik in Mangalore, was given entry into Congress party fold. “Myself and Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Oscar Fernandes were not aware of his misdeeds. This is a lesson for the party. I have asked party leaders to check the credentials and background of anyone who wish to join Congress,” he said.
Poojary said that Congress is always against those who attack women or support such incidents. He said even the KPCC was not aware of induction.
To a query on SDPI entering into alliance with JD(S) in the State, Poojary said “our main opponent is BJP. However, the BJP is running away from battle field and is seeking vote in the name of Narendra Modi rather than their candidate from the constituency.
“As there is caste system in the country, I am proud of my caste. However, I will not seek vote in the name of caste. I seek vote from the voters as a citizen of India,” he said.