Daijiworld Media Network - Puttur (SP)

Puttur, Feb 12: The 'highway blockade' programme taken up under the leadership of Subrahmanya Swamiji Vidyaprasannateertha to protest against the deplorable state of the Shiradi Ghat stretch of the national highway 48 on Wednesday February 11, got tremendous response. The protestors, who demanded immediate repair and restoration of this damaged road, squatted on the road and took out a procession to register their protest.

Even though they had planned to stop only the ore trucks from plying during the period of the agitation, even other vehicles did not move on the road. The road remained closed from 8 am to 2 pm. Volunteers from various places had arrived here to lend support to the Swamiji's initiative.

It may be recalled that the high court has already ordered for a Central Bureau of Investigation-assisted inquiry into the lapses and reasons for the substandard road repair works conducted by the contractors last year. The contractors concerned have also moved the court recently, complaining that they were not given a chance to put forth their arguments, before arriving at the above decision.