Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (HB/SP)

Udupi, Sep 23: The state high court has issued permanent injunction against an industrial land conversion order passed by the zilla panchayat president here on January 31, 2020. The land in question is located at Udyavar, where an industry is proposed to be established.

Former Kaup legislator Vinay Kumar Sorake, addressing a press conference here on Wednesday September 23, termed this as a victory of the Parisara Rakshana Samiti.

Sorake addressed a press meet held at the Press Club here. Already three industries dealing in fish products are functioning in Udyavar. The zilla panchayat president here, through an order dated January 31, 2020, all of a sudden had permitted land conversion for industrial purpose at Udyavar for establishing an industry. Considering the fact that the effluents being released by fishing industries have adversely affected the normal lives of the people in the past, Udyavar gram panchayat had cancelled the licence of these units.

In the meanwhile, an entrepreneur had applied in 2017 for converting agricultural land into industrial one for setting up a new industry manufacturing fish products. But this issue came up for discussion at the gram panchayat meeting. Even though it did not get majority support, a resolution was passed to issue no objection certificate.

But considering the adverse impact of this step, the panchayat later cancelled the decision of the previous panchayat administration. It was also decided not to permit any industries at Udyavar henceforth. In spite of the taluk panchayat opposition, zilla panchayat president ordered land conversion for the industrial purpose.

A protest led by Vinay KumarSorake was held under the aegis of the block Congress committee here against the order of the zilla panchayat president. Udyavar panchayat president Sugandhi Shekhar registered petition personally in the high court in the interests of Udyavar village. In the name of the panchayat development officer, another suit was filed.

The high court, considering the petitions, issued permanent injunction on August 3, 2020, against the land conversion order of the zilla panchayat president. This is a victory of Parisara Rakshana Samiti and Udyavar gram panchayat, Sorake said.

Udyavar gram panchayat president Sugandhi Shekhar, Parisara Rakshana Samiti president Anand, Lawrence D'Souza, gram panchayat member Girish, and member Diwakar, were present at the press conference.