Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (KD)

Udupi, May 10: A protest was held in front of gram panchayat office against the encroachment of a road that runs between Ellampalli Jarjaddi to Ellampalli Mahalingeshwar Temple here on Tuesday May 8.

Protesters said that the road was encroached for almost 2 years by one Puttaya Shetty. Owing to the locals were facing a number of problems and almost 30-40 acres of agriculture land was deprived of any transportation.

A request was made to taluk panchayat to clear the road but it was of no use. A similar appeal was also made to ZP and to deputy commissioner. Though ZP asked Puttaya Shetty to clear the road for public use, it did not materialize owing to strong political influence.

Enraged by this locals decided to stage protest in front of the GP office. Protest started in the morning in front off the panchayat office and in the evening rally was held. JD (S) president Balakrishna Shetty, TP member Sanjeev Poojary and Vincent Mascarenus spoke on this occasion.

A request was made to GP secretary S S Dodamani that within 20 days road should be cleared. If the administration fails in this, the locals themselves would clear the road.  However, the administration will be responsible for the all the loses and damages that the drive would involve, they warned.