Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)
Mangalore, Jun 11: Senior environment officer in Karnataka State Environment Pollution Control Board, C D Kumar, revealed that the board has issued no objection certificate to Mangalore Special Economic Zone (MSEZ) to discharge its effluents through pipeline into Arabian Sea near Mukka. He was addressing the reporters at Bykampady near here on Friday June 10.
“MSEZ will have to obtain further clearance from National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) located in Goa. The industries which are located within MSEZ will also have to obtain clearance from NIO individually for this purpose,” he clarified.
He said that the phenomenon of frequent accumulation of bitumen-like matter on seashore near Suratkal was on account of discharge of crude oil into sea by tankers. He added that NIO has been asked to study this issue, and the Coast Guard has been told to keep vigil on tankers which cause environment pollution.
Suresh B Tantri, manager (horticulture) of MSEZ, informed that MSEZ has planted 42,000 saplings in 109 acres of land during 2010-11, and that it will further plant 60,000 saplings in 135 acres of land in 2011-12, and 60,000 more saplings in 135 acres of land during 2012-13. He explained that MSEZ is committed to grow forest in 33 percent of land under its control.