Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)
Mangaluru, Oct 11: Kudremukh Iron Ore Company Ltd (KIOCL) will be investing Rs 836.6 crore for installing a 1.8 tonne capacity coke oven plant, a captive power plant of ten mw capacity and ductile iron spun pipe plant with annual production capacity of two lac tonnes at Baikmapady Industrial Area here.
In connection with this project, an environment petitions meeting was held at St Antony church hall at Kulur which was presided over by deputy commissioner of Dakshina Kannada district Sindhu Rupesh. The meeting was held under the aegis of the district environment pollution department.
At the meeting, KIOCL officials explained about the project cost, employment generation, setting up of the plant duly ensuring that it does not pollute environment, and initiatives being taken by the company towards the people of the locality in exchange for the cooperation extended by them.
The company currently holds 166.16 acres of land out of which the new unit will be set up in 11-acre plot. 54.8 acres of land has been set aside for green belt. 511 people will get direct employment while 1,500 will get indirect employment, the officials explained.
People from Jokatte, Kudumbur, Kulur, Baikampady, Panjimogaru and other areas expressed fear of environment pollution on account of the new plant and also fear about infectious diseases spreading in the area. They expressed the apprehension about problems emanating from coke dust.
Dany D'Souza from Kulur Melkoppala complained that the locals had sacrificed their land for KIOCL in the past, but they were overlooked when providing employment by the company. He questioned the need to set up a plant that results in deterioration of people's health. Similar opinions were expressed by Renny D'Souza, Jokatte gram panchayat member, Rafiq etc.
Former corporator Purushotham Chitrapur, Dayanand Shetty Panjimogaru, Raghuveer Panambur and others insisted that locals should be employed and steps should be taken against environment pollution. Rajashekhar Puranik, district environment pollution control officer, participated.
The deputy commissioner said that the petitions handed over by locals have been received. She said that the demands and other issues raised by the people would be scrutinized and discussions would be held with senior officials and others.