News and Pics: Chethan Padubidri
Daijiworld Media Network – Padubidri (SP)

Udupi, Feb 17: After the villagers in unison stuck to their stand against holding of gram sabha till a proper plan of action is chalked to relieve them of the side affects of the fly ash pond of Udupi Power Corporation Ltd at Santoor village, the gram sabha of Mudarangady gram panchayat near Padubidri, scheduled for Tuesday February 15, was cancelled.

The second gram sabha of the year 2010-11 had been convened at St Francis Church hall under the presidentship of the local gram panchayat president, Sunilraj Shetty. After the prayer, panchayat development officer, Savita B M, was preparing to place the report, when several people sprang to their feet and questioned about the continued absence of five gram sabha members and wanted their presence at the gram sabha. They also expressed their anger at the absence of several government officials including the environment department. They took to task the people’s representatives and officials present.

Zilla panchayat member, Arun Shetty Padoor, and panchayat president, Sunilraj Shetty, tried to appease the villagers by saying that they were with them in their fight against environmental pollution. The villagers however, said that they were facing health hazards and that the underground water table was contaminated because of the fly ash. They wanted the presence of MP, MLA, deputy commissioner and environment department officials to answer their questions. They also warned that they would jointly lock up the panchayat office, if the gram sabha is not convened within two weeks from now in the presence of these persons.

Bending to the wishes of the people, the gram sabha was cancelled. Nodal officer, Vasant Shetty, informed that he would send a full report on the developments to the deputy commissioner.