Udupi: Pejavar Swamiji Ends Fast on Minister Acharya's Plea
Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (SP)
Udupi, Jan 10: District in-charge minister, Dr V S Acharya, visited Pejavar Mutt Swamiji, Sri Vishweshateertha, at Goddess Durga Parameshwari Temple in Nandikoor near Padubidri on Tuesday January 10 in an attempt to assuage his feelings and convince him to end fast.
It may be recalled that the Swamiji is on a three-day fast at the said temple in protest against the dropping of two experts nominated by him, Y B Ramakrishna and T V Ramachandra, from the committee appointed to go into the environmental hazards and other problems created by Udupi Power Corporation Ltd’s thermal power plant in Nandikoor, since Monday.
He assured the Swamiji that all the issues concerning salty ground water and environmental pollution will be addressed on a time bound programme within the next six months. He told the Swamiji that a vented dam will be built across River Shambhavi at Nitte to supply drinking water to affected villages. He also informed that two cement factories, one by Associated Cement Company, and the other by Birla Cement, will be set up soon at the site, and that they will make use of fly ash. Once the factories begin production, the fly ash problem will get addressed, he reasoned.
It is also gathered that state Chief Minister (CM), D V Sadananda Gowda, spoke to the Swamiji over phone and discussed with him the issue. He is understood to have told the Swamiji that the government is prepared to accept the report prepared by the committee appointed for the purpose, and separate reports from the two experts named above, and study their contents before taking a decision. The CM it is gathered, impressed upon the Swamiji to discontinue his fast.
Spiritual head of Puttige Mutt, Sri Sugunendrateertha Swamiji, Palimar seer, Sri Vidyadheeshateertha Swamiji, additional deputy commissioner of the district, Kumar, tahsildar, Prasanna, deputy superintendent of police, Santosh Kumar, district health officer, Ramachandra Bairy, and hundreds of locals were present. Kaup MLA Lalaji R Mendon, Balakrishna Shetty Dubai, Raita Sangh district president Vijay Kumar Hegde and hundreds of villagers were present at the occasion.
Considering the offers made by Acharya, the Swamiji discontinued the fast at 10.30 am on Tuesday, but is firm on protesting till Wednesday January 11 evening.