Silvester D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapur (EP)

Kundapur, Jan 1: The locals here protested against Koni school road which they said has neither been repaired nor upgraded for the last twenty years. The protests were held on Monday, December 30 in different places in the area.

The road is riddled with potholes and the repair work has not started despite several appeals and requests to the officials concerned.

The Karnataka government has approved to upgrade the road at a cost of Rs 60 lac. The tender process was also over and a first class contractor was awarded the contract at a cost of Rs 53,45,050. He was directed to start the work by September, 2013 but the work has still not commenced.

The villagers, anguished with the developments, blocked the road and protested. The protests were led by Nagaraj Devadiga with participation by panchayat member Bhaskar Billava and local leader Sharaschandra Hegde. Hundreds of people participated in the protests.

Basanagowda, Panchayat assistant executive engineer, who arrived at the spot tried to pacify the protesters asking the contractor to start the work within the next couple of days. The protesters, who were not convinced, got an assurance from the contractor. The protesters then called back their protests.