News & Pics: Mounesh Vishwakarma
Daijiworld Media Network–Bantwal (EP)

Bantwal, Feb 25: Angry as there was no respite to water woes despite assurance by town municipal council, villagers of No. 4 Mandadi in Ward No. 9 here laid siege to Municipal council office on Tuesday, February 23 for the second time in two weeks.

The officials had assured of providing water within a week when the locals held protests fifteen days ago. The protesters expressed anguish saying though there was water for two days after the protests, it was irregular during the days after it.

Chief officer, Sudhakar and president Vasanthi pacified the protesters but they did not stop protests. Meanwhile member Praveen intervened and said that the matter will be discussed in the present ordinary meeting. However the protesters asked him to provide water and conduct meeting. There were heated discussions between local member Devadas Shetty and Praveen.

Members Gangadhar, Jagadish Kunder and Ramakrishna Alva intervened and diluted the situation. The protesters also took engineer Dominic D'Mello to task.

The chief official, president and engineer assured that the problem will be solved within the next two days. The protesters meanwhile warned that the pump house will be locked if the officials do not fulfil their promise. 

Members who had come for ordinary meeting felt the heat of the protests. They had to remain out of the office until the protests were over.

Members Devadas Shetty and Govinda Prabhu supported the protesters. Bantwal town police who got the information came at the end of the protests.