-The Times of India
DAVANAGERE: Jana Sangrama Parishat activist Shehanaz called on the farmers of Halligudi in Gadag district warning them against selling their fertile land for Posco steel industry. She was addressing a gathering in Davanagere on Wednesday as part of a state-level awareness procession that started from Raichur on July 9 and will end at Bangalore on July 17. It is being held to create awareness among people about illegal mining, acquisition of fertile land for setting up companies and implementation of the Lokpal bill. Shehanaz also told people that they should not believe industries minister Nirani’s false promises of jobs for locals once the plant came up. Many such industries had come up in Karnataka including Birla units near Harihar and other places but not many locals were employed there, she pointed out.
She called on college students besides academicians and scientists to join hands in curbing these illegal activities in the interest of the environment and also to press authoriteis to implement the Lokpal bill at any cost.
Noted critic and retired principal Prof B V Veerabhadrappa felt people had to be sensitized about the issues so as to protect the planet.
Environmentalist Shivanakere Basavalingappa, Gurumurthy and Gram Gana Rajya Vedike convenor Simha were present.