Silvester D’ Souza

Daijiworld Media Network – Byndoor (EP)

Byndoor, Mar 7: Villagers in Byndoor and nearby areas protested blocking the road urging to take up repairs of neglected Nagooru-Heroor road.

Former president of Heroor gram panchayat Ashok Kumar Shetty explaining to news reporters said that potholes on the five kilometers long road make it difficult even to walk. “People have been urging for its repairs for the last two years. Two buses which were running on the road have stopped plying because of it. Auto-rickshaws do not run on the road after evening. Dust rises throughout the road. 4,000 families, children from three higher primary schools beside the roads, two junior primary schools and three hundred children from four anganwadis in Yadakanta, Uppalli, Mekodu, Jerooru, Noojadi, Thenkabettu and Halageri have to use the road every day. Besides that houses and shops by the side of road have to bathe in dust. Those who use the road have to tie cloth to their faces. The situation of the road has become
impossible,” he said.

“The then MLA K Gopala Poojary released Rs three crore special grant for the road before Vidhan Sabha elections. He was defeated and B M Sukumar Shetty became MLA. The government also changed. An estimate of Rs 2.4 crore was prepared to repair the road in two parts. Tender was called but it was not finalized for unknown reasons. If repairs do not start now, those will have to be conducted after monsoons due to election code of conduct. People do not have patience to wait for that long. Therefore, we are protesting,” he said.

Former taluk panchayat president S Prakashchandra Shetty explained the action taken by him for repairs of the road and said that the work was delayed due to certain procedures that needed to be followed by the department. He expressed confidence that the work will begin in a day or two.

Former president of Kirimanjeshwar gram panchayat Subbanna Shetty, Jeroor gram panchayat member U Manjunath Bhat and zilla panchayat member Gauri Devadiga spoke addressing the protesters.

The protesters announced that they will boycott elections if the road repairs do not begin before the election code of conduct comes into force.

Engineer Manjunath and Durgadas assured that the tender process will be over in next seven days and the work will begin. Deepak Kumar Shetty who had come on behalf of the MLA said that the MLA will arrive on Friday and set the work in motion. The protests were withdrawn after it.

Heated arguments

There were heated exchange of words between political leaders and protesters. Protesters asked political parties not to indulge in politics with regard to the road and urged to repair the road.