Silvester D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network - Kundapur (RJP)

Kundapur, Jan 15: An unauthorized soil business by the panchayat members has been unearthed at Tallur and the persons responsible for the same have been told to compensate.

As per details, land measuring 3.6 acres in survey number 162 has been reserved as a play ground for school children for years. The soil from the said place was extracted and transported on Wednesday, January 14.

Girish Aithal and Cyprian Mendonca, the two members of the panchayat were accused of doing this act.

On Thursday, January 15, other members of the gram panchayat and taluk panchayat president protested at the place from where soil was taken.

Tallur village accountant Raghavendra D who visited the spot brought the matter to the attention of tahsildar and the officers concerned. Now it has been decided that the persons who were responsible for the extraction of soil should make good the losses suffered and fill the place like before.

Taluk panchayat president Bhaskar Billava, former taluk panchayat member T K Kotian, gram panchayat president Jayalaxmi Kotari, Dalit leader Udayakumar Tallur, gram panchayat vice president Raghu Poojary were part of the protesters.

Bhaskar Billava speaking to reporters said, "Lifting soil from places like this is common now. The same thing has happened at Tallur ground which has a history of decades. Strict action should be taken against those people who did it."