Daijiworld Media Network – Moodbidri (MS)
Moodbidri, Jul 2: Locals put up a fierce protest against the proposed establishment of a huge sea food unit by the state government at Niddodi here.
Fisheries minister Angara and local MLA Umanatha Kotian had visited Niddodi with regards to the huge sea food project, without informing locals. However, the locals who had already got the information expressed anger against the MLA as well as the minister.
Recently district-in-charge minister Kota Srinivas Poojary had announced this project under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampad Yojana. He had said that this project will facilitate processing of fish food, protection and value increase. However, the locals are saying that this project will cause environment pollution and they will not be able to do farming.
Dinesh, a local resident said, “The concerned government officials did not take local residents into confidence and discuss the pros and cons of the project. We want to know about the underground drainage system of the proposed factory, solution for the foul smell that will emanate from the factory and other related issues. More than 200 families are living in this area. The government should not mislead us in the name of the project. That is why we have appealed to the concerned government officials to hold a meeting and discuss the issues with the locals.”
Another resident said, “A similar project has come up in Mangaluru. However, locals did not get any employment in that. People from other states are working there. Even the environmental pollution issue is not resolved. We will not allow such a thing to repeat here. We have many youths in this locality who have completed degree education. If the factory is established here, they must get employment.”
Other residents said, “We are scared that the water of the wells and ponds in the area will turn poisonous if the factory starts functioning. The air that comes out from the chimney of the factory will be smelling foul. It will not be possible to live in the vicinity. If these issues are resolved, we do not have any issue in the factory coming up here.”
The minister and officials said that if the factory is established, 1,500 local residents will get employment on priority basis.