SEZ disastrous for region: MP

Speaking at an interactive meeting organised by the Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) here on Tuesday, Kateel said, “the officials of the Mangalore SEZ Limited themselves do not have a clear idea as to what type of industries and how many units will be set up inside the SEZ, but still they continue to acquire agriculture land. Let them acquire land only after deciding the type and number of industrial units to be set up.” A comprehensive study should be conducted before setting up any mega industrial projects, he added.

“Neither SEZ nor MRPL have distributed compensation adequately and rehabilitation of project displaced families (PDF) was also not done in proper manner. Though MRPL had given assurances of job to PDF members and development of infrastructure in the region, it was not materialised,” Kateel lamented.

People do not oppose any industry if it gives emphasis for the preservation of environment, he added.

Study team

Kateel said that he has plans of setting up a team to study the problems in the constituency. “People’s representatives should learn the topography and problems of a region before implementing any development programmes. Hence, I have decided to form an apolitical study team, which would consist of experts from various sectors, to study the region. Development programmes will be drawn based on the report submitted by the team,” he explained.

“My concept of development is purely of ‘Swadeshi’ model, where agriculture will be given more emphasis along with infrastructure development. Schemes should be implemented to prevent migration of farmers from rural areas to cities. Special Agriculture Zones should be established in rural areas to increase the agricultural production,” Kateel said.

M’lore railway division

Kateel said that the Railways should form a separate division for Mangalore to solve the problems existing in the region. People in the region are being subjected to injustice since the area comes under the Palghat division. Most of the demands of Mangaloreans are not being fulfilled by the Palghat division authorities, he blamed and assured that the issue will be brought to the notice of the Railway Ministry in the Parliament.

Talking about roads, he said that the tender process has been started to convert the National Highway between Thalappady and Kundapur into four-lane. The Mani - Mysore road development work is nearing completion and the Hassan - B C Road development project worth Rs 4,000 crore is in the offing. The tender processes have been started for the construction of flyover at Padil and Jeppu railway gates, he added.

Kateel said that he would convene a meeting of all MPs of arecanut growing regions to discuss the issues related to arecanut farming and market price.

KCCI President Srinivas S Kamath, Vice-President G G Mohandas Prabhu, Office-bearers Lata R Kini and Mohammed Ameen were present.