UDUPI: “The MSEZ officials visited me at the Pejawar Mutt yesterday and tried to persuade me against opposing the project,†revealed Sri Vishwesha Theertha Swamiji, the senior Swamiji of Pejawar Mutt.
Speaking to presspersons on Wednesday, the seer said the acquisition of 2000 acres of land at Permude was illegal and complained that the displaced have not been provided compensation. He informed that he had told the SEZ officials to consult legal experts to find if their act of acquisition of the land was illegal or not.
Stating that there was no question of changing his stance on SEZ, the seer said the SEZ officials informed him that they needed 2000 acres for the second phase of SEZ and that the value of the land has been handed over to 90 per cent of the farmers who have let their land.
The Seer further said he told the SEZ officials to adhere to the Supreme Court ruling on land acquisition for the first phase and also not to implement the second and third phase of SEZ which would engulf 70,000 acres of land, for any reason.
The Seer made it clear that the MSEZ authorities would not be allowed to implement the second and third phase of SEZ at any cost and that all legislators have backed this decision. He said he informed the SEZ officials in this regard
On the relief being provided on behalf of the Mutt to the flood hit people of north Karnataka; the seer said nearly 100 to 200 houses at a cost of Rs one lakh each would be constructed at a total of cost of Rs 2 cores through the mutt with the help of funds from the devotees. Already essential materials costing nearly rupees five to six lakhs have been distributed to the flood affected, the seer informed.
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