Mounesh Vishwakarma
Daijiworld Media Network - Bantwal (RD)
Pics: Padmini Studio

Bantwal, Feb 28: The local social welfare and voluntary organizations staged a protest at Punjalkatte, near here on Monday February 27, urging the taluk administration to undertake repairs to the Punjalkatte - Berkala - Kattepadav road.

The protesters alleged that Punjalkatte-Berkala?attepadav Road, a stretch of nine kilometers that lies on the boundary of Bantwal-Beltangady taluk is in a deplorable condition. Despite the memorandums submitted to people's representatives including the chief minister the repairs were not undertaken, alleged the protesters.

Ambedkar Pratistan of Punjalkatte, Madantyar Auto Rickshaw Drivers and Owners Union, Madupalke Vishnumurti Yuvaka Mandala, New Friends Berkala, and other local organizations staged a road blockade on the occasion.

K A Salu, Poovappa Moolya, Yashodar, Ravi Madantyar, and district INTUC vice-president Rajashekar Shetty led the protest.

ZP executive engineer Suryanarayan Bhat arrived on the spot to convince the protesters to discontinue the protest. However, the protesters demanded that local ZP and TP members arrive at the spot.

Beltangady MLA Vasant Bangera spoke to the leaders of the protest over the phone and assured them that road repairs will be undertaken at the earliest.