The Karnataka High Court on Monday issued notices to the Centre as well as the State government for allegedly damaging River Phalguni near Mangalore.
The Division Bench comprising Justice D V Shylendra Kumar and Justice K Govindarajulu issued the notices while hearing a public interest litigation filed by Pius Arun D’ Souza and others from Melakoppala and Attrebel villages in Mangalore.
The petitioners contended that the Mangalore Special Economic Zone (SEZ) has choked River Phalguni as the SEZ developers have dug up the existing road to lay pipelines and were dumping debris in the river to create alternative road. The petitioners appealed to the court to save the river from being choked.
During the hearing, Justice Shylendra Kumar told the government authorities not to take steps that damage ecology.
“The short term project for temporary gain will damage rivers, which existed for millions and millions of years. The foreign companies will come and pollute our country,” remarked Justice Shylendra Kumar.
The counsel for the government gave an undertaking that the damage would be repaired soon after the pipeline is laid.