Mangalore SEZ is the biggest disaster to strike DK - Justice Saldanha

Mangalore SEZ is the biggest disaster to strike DK - Justice Saldanha

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Nov 22: Stating that the Mangalore SEZ is the biggest disaster to strike the district of Dakshina Kannada during the last century, Justice Saladanha said that the entire project is fraught with corruption and fraud and spells only death, havoc, misery, and destruction, instead of economic prosperity and employment opportunities. He was addressing reporters at a press conference held at Hotel Woodlands.

 

MSEZ has violated human rights to such an extent that the International Human Rights Organization had written to the government of India seeking an explanation of how a civilized and democratic country such as India can tolerate such total violation of law.

Regarding the bill on torture proposed by the government of India, he said that it should be passed only after public debate because it is fraught with negative clauses and loopholes. A resolution has been passed according to which judicial reforms suggested by Law Minister Veerappa Moily should be expedited. He also said that human rights activists in Karnataka are harassed needlessly.

Informing that 10 lakh people are victims of SEZ, Justice Saldanha said that 79 percent of them belong to one community. The victims’ properties, which have been acquired by SEZ, have been undervalued at the rate of Rs. 35 per coconut tree and Rs. 60 per mango tree. These trees would have yielded plenty of fruit and brought in a lot of income, he said. Moreover, the high court has failed to grant relief for the victims of SEZ, he added.

Later, he also released a booklet called “Horrifying Human Tragedy Called Mangalore SEZ,” written in Kannada, on the occasion.

People’s Union for Civil Liberties President P. B. D’Sa and Vice President Suresh Bhat were present during the press conference.