Achievements
Before the year 2000, the undivided Dakshina Kannada districts (Mangaluru and Udupi) faced significant challenges from so-called environmentalists. These individuals, who were highly educated, opposed all types of industries and power projects in the name of protecting the environment, without offering any solutions for the development of the twin districts.
Politicians from all political parties, including MLAs, MPs, and ministers from the twin districts, also opposed industrial and power plant projects, driven by the motive of securing votes.
As a result, by 2001, the undivided Dakshina Kannada district was labeled as an unfavorable area for industrial development. This negative perception was even recorded in the International Investors Guide due to the strong opposition from environmentalists against setting up industries
Recognizing the injustice done to the twin districts, our Samiti, under the leadership of Engineer and Social Worker Thonse Jayakrishna A. Shetty, made a firm decision to challenge the misguided views of these so-called environmentalists and advocate for the development of the region. With the slogan “Protect the Environment & Support Development,” we aimed to create opportunities for the youth seeking employment and business prospects in the 21st century.
Subsequently, our Samiti presented demands to the State and Central Governments, engaging with prominent political figures, including then Defence Minister and NDA Convenor Padmavibhushan George Fernandes, former Prime Minister of India H.D. Deve Gowda, former Karnataka Chief Ministers H.D. Kumaraswamy, B.S. Yediyurappa, Veerappa Moily, Jagadish Shettar, and Sadananda Gowda, as well as former Central Ministers Oscar Fernandes and Janardhana Poojary, among others.
Major Efforts & Achievements of Jayashreekrishna Parisara Premi Samiti (NGO) since last 24 years towards the Growth & Development of Dakshina Kannada (Mangaluru & Udupi) Districts:
Most Controversial 1320 Mega Watt Nagarjuna Thermal Power Project (Now Adani Power) at Udupi District for the continuous Power Supply to the Undivided Dakshina Kannada and Bangalore City and success of 5040 Crore Nagarjuna Power Plant at Udupi itself is a History with the Complete role played by our Samiti. In the Year 2008 Nagarjuna started producing power and Udupi District Power Plant was fully Operational in the Year September 2012.
George Fernandes Ji attended 3 Public Meetings in support of Nagarjuna Power Project.
Nagarjuna Power Company and Jayashreekrishna Parisara Premi Samiti signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in stamp paper for the technological and environmental obligations was to be implemented to set up the Power Plant at Padubidri , Udupi demanded by our Samiti
In the above MOU samiti had demanded pollution control equipment called FGD plant – Flue Gas Desulfurization which was costing above Rs 200 Crores for controlling the emission levels of the power plant as per International Standards and it was a 2nd such Power Plant in India at that time after Tata Power Plant at Mumbai.
The above MOU was signed between Jayashreekrishna Parisara Premi Samiti and Nagarjuna Power Company by Shri Praveer Sinha – CEO of the Nagarjuna Power Project Who flew from Bengaluru to Mumbai to attend our Samiti’s Managing Committee Meeting and MOU was signed before all the Managing Committee Members of our Samiti. Now the same Shri Praveer Sinha is the Managing director & CEO of India’s Large power producer Tata Power Company Limited.
It may be noted that in the year 1995 at Padubidri – Udupi District an American Company Cogentrix Power tried to set up the 1000 mega watt power plant with the total support of Govt. of India and Govt. of Karnatka
Then Chief Minister of Karnataka Shri J H Patel Challeged that Government will set up Cogentrix Power Project at Padubidri – Udupi Dist. and for the foundation stone laying was to be performed by then Prime Minister of India Shri Narsimha Rao ji and it came in all the newspapers. But opposition to the Power Project was intensified and agitations against the Power Project was very severe and it went beyond the control of Police and Government of Karnataka.
One day before the foundation stone laying for Congentrix power by the Prime Minister of India was Cancelled due to the stiff opposition for the Power Project from the Locals & others.
Finally Congentrix Power Backed out from India after spending Rs 120 crores for the project with the Continuous effort of 5 years. and it was Times of India top front page news all over India.
In the year 2002 our Samiti had demanded with the Central Government through Defence Minister George Fernandes Ji for the Upgradation of Mangalore Airport with Night Landing facilities and International Airport at Mangalore by providing a new runway. Later it was sanctioned Complete with sanction of funds Rs. 55.26 crores for construction of new Runway by referring the Samiti’s demand Letter by the Civil Aviation Minister in the year 25th November 2003.
George Fernandes as a Defence Minister personally came from Delhi to inspect the new Runway work progress alongwith Airport Director and Thonse Jayakrishna Shetty & Parisara Samiti Team.
The Night Landing Facility started at Mangaluru Airport in October 2006 and the 1st Operation of International Flight started by the Air India Express Flying from Dubai to Mangalore.
On the day of first International Flight landed from Dubai to Mangaluru in the year 2006 there was a very big function at the Mangaluru Airport attended by Civil Aviation Minister and Ministers from Karnataka including MP’s & MLA’s and in that function in the Welcome Speech made by the Chairman of Airport Authority of India totally gave the full credit to our Jayashreekrishna Parisara Premi Samiti (NGO) and on that day HON’BLE R.V. DESHPANDE JI was present on the DAIS and it was the proud moment for our Samiti
In the year 2002 our Samiti demanded with the Central Govt. though Defence Minister George Ferandes and Railway Minister Nitish Kumar for Restarting of Mangaluru – Bangaluru Rail Link which was Non – operational for 16 years by conversion of Meter Guage to Broad Guage demanded and represented by our samiti with full of justification and Samiti’s Several meetings held with the Ministry and Finally fund was sanctioned for the Project and Mangaluru-Bengaluru Rail Link Restarted.
In the year 2006 the Samiti had demanded to start a ”GARIB RATH” From Mumbai to Mangaluru with George Fernandes Ji and then Railway Minister Shri Lalu Prasad Yadav with the proper justifications and this Garib Rath service was started in the year 2007 with the several meetings with the ministry by our Samiti’s Team.
In the year 2001 Samiti also demanded 6 Lane National Highway with divider in the centre from Mangaluru to Kundapur / Byndoor with Hon. George Fernandes Ji for Speedy movements of Vehicles and to reduce 98% of the daily accidents and several hundred deaths taking place in this highway from last 20 years. Later Hon. George Fernandes ji recommended the same to the then National Highway Minister Major B.C.Khanduri and the proposal was sanctioned. Now the Project was Completed with the Investment of Rs.700 Crores by the Central Governmnet.
The Mangaluru Special Economic Zone (SEZ) was to set up at Mangalore in a big way with the investment of Rs 50,000 Crores and it was totally opposed by India’s famous environmentalist MS. MEDHA PATKAR and noting the panic button for industrialization at Mangaluru Pressed By Medha Patkar and then Executive Director and CEO of the Mangalore SEZ came to Mumbai to our Jayashreekrishna Parisara Premi Samiti (NGO) and pleaded the full support from our Samiti for setting of the SEZ and our Samiti has done the full of ground work on the same in the year 2012 and also Samiti demanded 30% Green zone in the 4,000 acre of SEZ land accordingly Mangalore SEZ – Government Company as reserved 1,200 acre as a Green Zone permanently.
20 years lease extension to Kudremukh Iron ore Company (Central Govt. Company) at Mangaluru – Karnataka through central Govt. Cabinet meeting comprising of 14 Cabinet Ministers chaired by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and recommended by Defence Minister and NDA Convener Shri George Fernandes to Union Environmental Minister T.R.Balu and others based on the demand , Representation and Justification by our Samiti to the Central Government Concern Ministers.
20 years Lease Extension was approved by the Central Environmental Minister Quoting our Samiti’s 42 page Representation Letter in the year 2001 with saved employment of several thousand people who are directly or indirectly connected with Kudremukh Iron Ore Company Ltd.
At that time our Samiti also held 2.5Km rally of 10,000 people in support of Kudremukh Iron Ore Company from Mangaluru City to Kuloor Junction involving various officers & workers unions of Different Organisations which was a Another History by itself.
It has been explained that so far more that Rupees Fifty Thousand Crores of investments has been backed out due to the opposition of the environmentalist and the local people. Also more that Rupees One Lac Crore Investments was supposed to be invested in DK which has also not materialized due to unfavourable support due to which the prospective investors have backed out from that date.
It is therefore necessary that industries are encouraged in only 10% of the entire DK land and that too only in areas where the land is infertile . Due to this the natural beauty and the environment will also not get harmed and further industrialization can also be developed hand in hand.
North Kanara is Under Developed and South Kanara is Semi Developed. Unemployment Rates are Increasing year by year. Each and every boy and girl are looking out for a job as per their qualification in 21st Century.
Our Samiti as an NGO has organized the very Important CONFERENCE ON POLLUTION CONTROLLED INDUSTRIALISATION AND FULL TOURISM DEVELOPMENT along with 320 kms Coast of Karnataka with preparation of district Draft Plans for next 100 years as on 26th August 2023 at Fortune Inn Valley View Hotel at Manipal.
This is the very Important Conference in which we have released Samiti’s Coastal Development Vision Plan of 125 pages for Mangaluru ,Udupi and Uttara Kannada Districts for the next 100 years Draft Planning as “TODAY’S DEVELOPMENT SHOULD NOT BE TOMORROW’S DISASTER” by Hon’ble U.T Kadar – Speaker – Karnataka Legislative Assembly along with Hon’ble Jagadish Shettar –MLA and Former Chief Minister of Karnataka, Hon’ble R.V.Deshpande – MLA and Former Industries , Revenue, Tourism & Environment Minister- Govt. of Karnataka and others.