George Pais, URWA

We produce atleast 3000 to 4000 young engineers every year from these 2 Districts,considering this and present poor employment potentiality, MSEZ is a must for our districts,But with a good rehabilitation package for displaced people,very good price for their lands atleast double than offered today and it also looks that concernd or stake holders in this project have been not giving enough publicity for ther need of this project for our Next generation, i.e shifting of Aggricultrual actvities from small holdings to Corporate farming and for the people to shift from Agriculture to Service Industry or sector for upliftment of their living.

Bhandarkar, Mangalore

Mr Rudolph Narona of Dubai be informed that ED & COO of MSEZL,who is on deputation from MRPL, is a Chemical Engineer from NITK, Surathkal and has handled environment from 1993 to 2006 in MRPL, constructing and operations of 2 waste water treatment plants,handled air pollution control etc.

Mr. SreeKumar, Manager Environment,MSEZL, is also a Chemical Engineer and a product of MRPL who has worked in the Environment Department for more than 10 years . He has also done a stint of more than 4 years in the Gulf of a reputed concern in the same department. As for Mr Deepak Pinto's querry he can always contact the PR or the HR department of MRPL to get the statistics

Annapoorna, Mangalore

As for Mr Austin's comments MSEZL has nothing to do with PCPIR. MSEZL stays even if PCPIR is scrapped.

thomas, neria

sir,I Appriciat u r future plans.Now My Quistion is, what are the necesory infrastructure plans u take along with this, for a growing MANGALORE /NEAR BY.

Captain Stanley Latif Correa, Urwa Stores/Jeddah,Saudi Arabia

MSEZ Project is a gift to Mangaloreans. Public is disturbed & confused by couple of leaders who want their names on headlines. CEO SN Prasad's interview with Daijiworld staff is very clear his mission. We know complaining each other & finding negatives. Let us give helping hand to CEO Prasad & wish him all the best to his undertakings & responsibilities with the Government. Thank u CEO Prasad for your wonderful interview.

Avinash, Mangalore/U.K

I still dont understand that' how can  public sector authorities thinking to build a project on publics own lands. Promising about job and compensation that is a second question ,and in that they will never succeed to do that.

Ganesh, Mangalore

Dear Bharath Shetty,If locals employing move starts in USA,you will also one among the job loser,please remember.

Ramesh, Manglaore

We saw a similar opposition from certain community in Goa for the Konkan railway, but now they have realised the importance of Konkan railway. Similary those people who are now opposing will see the importance of SEZ in years to come

rudolph narona, dubai

Do MSEZL have an environmental engineer, we never heard of him, does any body checking various clearances they got? as a citizen of Mangalore we should check whether MSEZL is following all requirements in the clearances given by the KSPCB and the Ministry. The bribe and corruption is seen in this regard. Some part of the land which is in the south of MRPL is really CRZ, no body bothered to prevent the construction here. As per my knowledge we need to represent to MoEF to declare this land as CRZ, otherwise they will grab it.

S VIJAYANANDA, SULLIA

What is the PROJECT shedule of MSEZL. There will be sudden rush/ migration of people during construction ,operation and maintenance phase.Will present Mangalore infrastructure support inflow of population? Present road condition in Mangalore is worst that in UP and Bihar.Will concerned elected representative will do some thing to change the image of Mangalore.

Deepak pinto, Bajpe, muscat

These people say they provide employment oppourtunities to locals. Same thing was said when MRPL came up. When the add came for jobs, I had applied. But MRPL did not even call for interview. These people instead of employing the locals employ people from our neighbouring states. Atleast let our people do agriculture and live peacefully.

Vishwa, Mangalore/USA

Good report from Daiji, it is eye openar for many people who without having any knowledge just cry saying poor people will ocme ot road. One thing is clear that people who is having hut will get concret good house, employement per person and atleast few lacs of rupees. This is a governement organisation. and Mangalore need it. One more thing go to MRPL you will se lot of people are mangaloreans. and many people are land loosers. People before commenting should go to site and comment

Suresh Sullia , Mangalore

It is indeed pathetic to note that emotions rather than issues take precedence while responding to SEZ. Mr Andrew D'Souza'a outbursts are baseless.

I happen to talk to some PDF's and even those who have 5 cents of land are taking a minimum of 8 to 10 lakhs. From where has Mr Andrew got his figures. He can go to MSEZ office and get details as I counterchekced to ascertain these claims. Moreover when the package details are kept in public domain anyone can question undr RTI if the promised benefits are not given to displced families. There is a judiciary which can still deliver justice. Just going hammer and thong want help. Mr Prasad is a government official and he has no personal stake to fight for the project.

If not Mangalore it will go go somewhere. I think Mangaloreans want their children to be sent to distant places and get spoilt as we have seen youngsters who are far away from their families falling prey to rave parties like the one we saw in Bangalore recently. At least in Mangalore the government is promoting the project. I wonder what would have been the reaction of people if private parties (as is happening in other states) were involved in promoting MSEZ. Mr Andrew is viewing the project with a jaundiced eye. It is better late than never and MSEZ keeping the information in public domain would open the eyes of many who are just carried away by the misinforation being spread by so called pseudo environmentalists and others who have half-fed knowledge.

FLAVIAN DSOUZA, banaglore

Dear Sir, Firsts it was CAMPCO, then MRPL and then ONGC and now its MSEZ ?? How much have the locals benifitted, directly or indirectly. Our people still have to go to the gulf and struggle and many of them leaving behind their families. If someone can justify we dont have an issues in MSEZ. How can you justify to the public on the 50,000 crores spent ? Unfortunatley there is no website to invoke an RTI query.

Austin, Mangalore

There was news in the business standard on 3Jul08, that the Karnataka government has decided to scrap the PCPIR project.In that case why the authorities are still pursuing land acquisition

Rupesh Lobo, Mangalore, Dubai

I am not against the SEZ project which is coming up with in the city. The major concern is that firms are paying far less than the markets rates while acquiring the land. The land valuation for the purpose should be done based on best use study basis. This valuation requires the computation of all the future cashflows (with out including the land cost) from the project and discounting these cashflows to arrive at the Net Present Value of the project.

Once this value is arrived the developers margin has to be reduced to arrive at the land value. This method is internationally accepted method and this should have been followed. The MSEZ should provide a copy of the proposal (Form A)which they have submitted to the centre while obtaining the preliminary approval and this should be published in all the leading news papers. This will help us all to clear

Vikram Amin, Bangalore , Dubai

I'm totally for SEZ ofcourse Kannadigas must be given job opportunities. In the SEZ vicinity it should be made mandatory that 90% of the jobs should be to Kannadigas irrespective of Religion, Caste etc. Prominence should be given to people who are native of Dakshina Kannada & Udupi districts with regards to employment.

Francis, Mangalore

The mega project like this is not enviornment friendly. You plant any number of trees or greenary in vicinity. But the gases like H2S is hazard to health and people in this region will suffer with various kind of deseases and life expectancy of Mangalore will reduce. CEO, Industrailist , politicians travel by Air craft and reside far away in remote well groomed farm ( green land ) .

The local people , children, eleders have no choice but to live with inhaling these gases and die in poor state of Health. There is no prosperity for poor... Born as poor and die with all dire consequences... What is said  will not practically hapen.. Only false promises to acquire land and benift from rich land scape of Mangalore...... you can see later who owns the land and companies... No Mangaloreans will benefit. Can anyone ask MRPL / ONGC.. What is the present % of mangaloreans working in it. I am sure less than 2%.. Many Mangaloreans have applied with required qualification but.. recruitment depends of infuence and bribe...

Alwyn D'Souza, Mangalore

Many people are losing their lands which is effecting thier daily bread. Poor peoples sacrifece are the gain of MSEZ . You people know to manipulate the poor people minds in Mangalore. Please stay away from the acquisition of land in Mangalore. You have already acquired enough land. Build your industries on that land or go else where to find suitable land for your dear industries like petrochemicals. For your information, Mangalore people are smart and kind, so do not take advantage of them with sweet tricky talks.

Andrew D'Silva, Mangalore, Mumbai

I appreciate Mr. Dharmaraj Shetty’s concern for locals of Udupi and Mangalore and his feeling that SEZ can bring in ample opportunity of creating wealth and employment to these locals. Mr. Shetty’s thoughts are fully mis-placed . Can he sell his ancestors land for a price of Rs. 8000/- per cent when the going price is Rs. 70000/- per cent and get paid nothing for his house if his house is much older.

Who cares whether he gets an alternative house for this pittance and who cares where his family and his elderly parents settles. Who cares what pollution it may create with and around. Who cares what attachment his elders had for his land and who cares what environment disaster it can bring in to the area. Wake-up from your dream and come to India centric realities of SEZ. I have land at Mangalore where IT/ITES project coming up at Ganjimatta. They have forcefully displaced women and childrens and every one from their dwelling units which were purchased by their spouse after slogging at distant Gulf. Putting their life earnings in this small land with houses by offering only Rs. 8000/- per cent. When the going price here is Rs. 70000/- per cent.

These women and childrens were rolling on the floor with heart breaking cry, pleading before the Authorities not to take away their only saving which is their house on the small land. Unfortunately their cry fell in deaf ears. The land for the above said Mangalore SEZ-IT/ITES has been handed over to one Bangalore based Nitesh Estates who is a builder by himself. He is commercially exploiting the said SEZ by advertising in news papers, putting hoardings in Air-Ports. Govt has snatched the land belonging to the labour class of locals and handed over to the Builders who is now selling and calling Corporates with commercial rates for the booking of office space in this SEZ.

Who are the benefactors of the above SEZ and similarly who has benefited from the SEZ activities of the Govt so far???? The benefactors are Land Sharks Corporates, Builders, Ministers and Politicians. What employment and economic development it can bring in for locals when locals are not employment worthy and post acquisition they will be relocated in a distant conveyance prohibitive places??

What is SEZ ??? The concept of SEZ first came in China to create mass production in a massive integrated township with air-ports and sea port with in the SEZ. Currently it has only 3 -4 such SEZ fully controlled by Govt which accounts for more than 30% of Exports out of China . The size of SEZ in China covers like almost our half of the state area. The entire land is held by the Govt and the Corporates only need to operate inside the SEZ. In India the number of SEZ are more than 500 ranging from 100 hectors to 5000 hectors and above. The land is handed over to Corporates by the Govt with guise of providing employment, and bringing in foreign exchange, giving tax holidays and duty exemtion.

Nannu Mangalore, Mangalore

There are mixed responses from all daiji friends.I feel as Mr. Prasad said opposition is due to Lack of under standing of projects.This is mainly due to misguiding people by so called environmentalist. Poor public should under stand the situation by Nagarjuna Project. Now no body opposes why????.MSEZ is coming in the area where agriculture was a main field of the people once upon a time.

All the Leaders who opposes this should give the numbers how much crop is grown per year in this area.But still I feel MSEZ top officers should think off shifting the Benkinatheshwara Temple. Some alternative should be worked out for this leaving atleast 50 families around the temple. This Benkinatheshawara will protect all the petroleum sectors coming in MSEZ which runs because of BENKI(Furnaces).

Hope Shri A.G. Pai will under stand this and will be able to convince the concerns.He is a great man with lot of knowledge and dreams for developing Mangalore in all the respects.Mr.Bharath as I know from the sources now Karnataka employees are dominating in MRPL.Many people who have lost the land for MSEZ started getting jobs in MRPL.

dharmaraj shetty, barkur / bombay

IT IS VERY DISHEARTENIG WHILE READING SOME OF THE COMMENTS AGAINST SETTING UP SEZ. SEZ IS AN INTERNATIONAL STANDARD COMMERCIAL ZONE EVERYTHING IS PREPLANNED FOR AMENITIES FOR THE FUTRE TO MANKIND, ENVIRONMENT, POLLUTION ASPECT,EMPLOYMENTASPECT ASPECT INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS UNLIKE THE PRESENT SYSTEM OFBUILDING FACTORIES,COMMERCIAL COMPLEXES ON THE HIGHWAY ETC,NO REGULATION NO SUPERVISION.NOW SOME PEOPLE MUST HAVE FRIGHTENED BY CONSTUCTION OF 90FT 120 FT WIDE ROADS ENEN FOR STARTING ANY ACTIVITY.THIS IS INTERNATIONAL STANDAR OF CREATING INDUSTIAL ZONE.

IN WHOLE OF UDUPI DISTRICT THEREIS NOT A SINGLE GARDEN WHERE PEOPLE CAN GO RELAX&SPEND SOMETIME WITH THEIR FAMILY.VERY SURPRISING!!! WHERE AS SEZ ALREADY STARTED DEVELOPING GARDENS THAT TOO INVOLVING EMINENT PEOPLEOR SPECIALISTS LIKE DR ALVAIN A MASS SCALE, HRD DEVLOPEMENTS HAS STARTED ALREADY.WITHOUT ALL THESE THING INTERNATIONAL GRADE BUSINESS HOUSES WILL NOT COME. COASTAL KARNATAKA IS VERY STEEP GRADIENT LAND SCAPE AS A RESULT EVERY DROP RAIN WATER STRAIGHT GOING TO SEA WITH EXCEESIVE LAND EROSION.EVEN THOUGH DK IS IN THE HIGHEST RAIN FALL ZONE OF THE WORLD THERE IS ACUTE SHORTAGE OF WATER!!!WATER TABLE IS GOING DOWN VERYFAST.CAUSING IRREPAIRABLE DAMGE TO THE LAND&LIVING.DK HAS BECOME A LARGE WORKSHOP FOR PROUCING GRADUTES& POST GRADUATER DOCTORATES ,THERE IS NO SCOPE FOR EVEN 10% OF THIS PRODUCTION TO BE ABSORBED LOCALLY.

NO BODY IS TALKING ABOUT WARER&RAINWATER HARVESTING,OR RIVER JOINING OR BUND DAMS WHERE AS ALL OTHER STATES VERY AGRESSIVE IN THIS TO BRING UP WATER TABLE UP .IT APPEARS TO ME THAT SOMESMALL SECTION OF PEOPLE PREFER MONEY ORDER ECONOMY OF OUR DISTRICT &CARRYING BEGGING BOWL FOR DONATION TO EVRYWHERE FOR ANNASANTHARPANE YAGA YAJNAPADAPUJE ETC IN THE NAME OF GOD OR OTHER GIMMICKS.HAVE YOU SEEN ANY SWAMIJIS OR DHARMADHARSHIS EXCEPT VERY FEW ,TALKING ABOUT SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY,ECONOMY PROGRESS OTHER THAN THEIR SELF INTEREST IN THE NAME OF GOD.CLEAR VULGAR MISUSE OF ALMIGHTY MOSTMERCIFUL GOD.

IT SEEMS SOME POEPLE HAVE DEVELOPED A NOTION THAT WE ARE BORN POOR&WE WILL DIE AS POOR ONLY BUT WILL NOT TOLERATE WEALTH&WEALTH CREATION&WEALTHY.WHAT A PITY!!!!.WHO IS SPREADING FALSE INFORMATION THAT SEZ IS BAD FOR ECONOMY?SEZ IS ONLY PLANNED ZONE FOR VARIOUS ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES WITH LEAST EFFECT ON ENVIROMENT&NATURE&LABOURWELFARE. PLEASE FOR HEAVEN SAKE DONOT OPPOSE SEZS&CREATION OF WEALTH IN A PLANNED WAY

Jossie Mendonca, Niddodi/Dubai

Mr. Prasad has listed a cocktail of dangerous cocktail of petro companies setting up shop in phase-I and then he says phase-II will be ITES & garments. Who can believe this nonenses? Will a IT company set-up shop in a place where there is 2000 acres of pollution next door?

Mr. Prasad says, "we are soon planning to launch our website". Shouldn't this have been done much earlier? Looks like they have a lot to hide! I liked Ramesh Salian's comment that there is currently a severe labour shortage in DK for the existing agriculture & small industries itself so why destroy nature to and create jobs? For whom?

If the Govt. is happy to provide WORLD-CLASS infrastructure in the MSEZ why can't the same money be used for sorting out the roads in Mangalore city today? And this talk of 33% green belt within the MSEZ and herbal gardens etc is also a load of nonsense. Pilikula has done much greater work in this field and they didn't take peoples land & livelyhood by force to make herbal gardens!

Lancelot Norbert Tauro, Manglore - Doha qatar

People of DK will sacrifice their home land,acquistion for Mega projects. When the employment vacancies arise it will be filled by our neighbour states who always protest and go for strike, where they do not like any projects to come up thier state.

It Should not happend to our beautuful land. Preference will be given to the land donors and DK people.

Ronald, Udupi / Sharjah

It is a known fact that Dakshina Kannada is facing a shortage of man power. Hard working habbits are fast disappearing except for IT and few professional fields. My question is whether MSEZ's are going fetch quality skilled and unskilled labour with little bit of work ethics and disciplione?

Forget about environmentalists, MSEZ will have their own professional & educated environmental officers with the regulations to follow. Though corruption can not be ruled out, it can be minimised by good and transperent adminstration and a proper rule book. This may reduce the interference by so called local environmentalists.

Ramesh Salian, Mangalore

Before talking of employment opportunities Mr. I S N Prasad should state the number of unemployed in the district. The small scale sector in the district is facing labor shortage. Then for whom MSEZ is creating jobs (if at all it creates as projected) Tulunadu has enough of Petrochemical and chemical industries (in fact more than it can handle).

And anyway Petrochemical sector will be shutting it's doors within next 15 years because of depleting oil resources, then why displace large number of farmers and convert fertile agricultural land and water sources into a graveyard of chemical waste, when the future problem that world and our country has to be prepared for is scarcity of food and water?!

DIWAKAR SHETTY, MANGALORE

RELOCATION OF WORSHIP PLACE IS EASY TO MSEZ & MR.PRASAD CAN BUILD HUNDREDS OF TEMPLE ANY WHERE HE WANT BUT NOT PLACE/LAND, SINCE HINDU RELIGION GIVING IMPORTANCE TO THE LAND & THE TEMPLE IS SECONDARY .WORSHIP PLACE ITSELF HAVE ANCIENT HISTORY. RELOCATION WILL DAMAGE THE HINDU SENTIMENT.

HINDUS BUILDING WORSHIP PLACE BASED ON THE HERITAGE OF PLACE/LAND. DAKSHINA KANNADA IS A TEMPLE CITY & POLLUTION FREE PLACE. AFTER MSEZ IT WILL BECOME WORST POLLUTED PLACE.MSEZ IS MORE BENEFICIARY OF THIS PROJECT THAN THE PEOPLE WHO LOST THEIR LAND IN ACQUISITION .

NOW ALL CORPORATE SECTOR HAVE ENOUGH PUBLIC MONEY TO ACQUIRE LAND IN THE NAME OF DEVELOPMENT & ALL OUR FARMERS WHO DEPEND ON AGRICULTURE WILL LOSE THEIR BREAD & LIVELIHOOD. THE DAY WILL COME ALL AGRICULTURAL LAND IN D.K. WILL GO TO CAPITALIST/CORPORATE SECTOR.

Bharath shetty , Kateel -USA

Dear CEO Prasad, Can u please tell me how many locals employed in MRPL as full times employees? Even MRPL folks gave same promise as u gave...Sadly all are broken