This was published in The Hindu, Nov 26.

http://www.hindu.com/2008/11/26/stories/2008112651590600.htm

Pejawar seer questions Government’s commitment towards people

MANGALORE: Criticising the State Government for not taking a “pro-people” and “pro-environment” stand on the proposed Mangalore Special Economic Zone project, Sri Vishwesha Tirtha Swamiji of Pejawar Math has said that he does not trust the Bharatiya Janata Party Government of being serious about preventing the entry of harmful and polluting industries.

The seer urged the Government to reconsider its stand on the mega-project. “I am with your struggle till the end,” he declared amid rousing applause from a large gathering of anti-SEZ activists who were attending a seminar on Development of coastal districts, organised by the Nagarika Seva Trust, Guruvayankere, on Tuesday.

Demanding that the Rs. 35,000-crore MSEZ project be limited to Phase I, he said: “There is not much we can do about stopping the Phase I of the project, since the land has already been acquired. But the 2,035 acres of land earmarked for the Phase II of the project should not go through at any cost.”

Describing mega-industrial projects as “a curse on Mother Earth,” he demanded that a study on the carrying capacity of the region be conducted.

“When the railways and the ports of the region began improving we were happy. But now they have become an entry point for polluting industries,” he lamented.

Clarifying that he was not against development and industrialisation, the seer said that development should happen in an equitable manner. He opined that when industries get overly concentrated in one region, it could lead to imbalances in economy as well degeneration of environment.

“Everyone should bear the burden of industries, they are a necessary evil. But you cannot select one place and dump all the evil on it,” he said.

Advocating a policy of decentralisation, he said: “Spiritualism, wealth and education should never become the preserve of a few. When development of any sort is restricted to only one section, it leads to degeneration of society.”

Referring to the Vicar General of the Mangalore Catholic Diocese Danis Moras Prabhu and the pontiff of the Hawwa Jumma Masjid, Bolangady Maoulana Yahya Tangal as well as the seers of the Kollya and Khemaru Math who shared the stage with him, the seer said that the time has come to put aside religious differences.

“Our in-principle differences on issues of religion can be sorted out later. But right now we must unite to save our land, livelihood and our heritage,” he said calling on all religious leaders to join the anti-SEZ movement.