Silvester D’ Souza

Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapur (EP)

Kundapur, Jul 30: Shiroor villagers attempted to lay a siege to the I R B office on Saturday, July 30 condemning the irregularities in national highway authority. The protests that began at Shiroor market progressed till cess collection centre.

More than 500 protesters tried to lay a siege to the IRB office. Police personnel stopped the protesters. Tahsildar Kiran Gorayya received a request from the protesters.

Former MLA Gopala Poojary speaking to reporters said that IRB has taken no action to maintain the well-being of the highway users other than collection of toll. The sleeping of a cow on the toll lane and the ambulance accident shows the negligence of toll staff. Potholes that can cause deaths have opened up their mouths through the highway. It is tragic that none of the officials or the national highway authority has looked into it.

Byndoor BJP mandal president Deepak Kumar Shetty said that the MP and the MLAs have already informed the highway authority the issues at Byndoor highway. “The officials have assured us that the work will be done soon. It will be like testing the patience of people if the officials delay to solve the problems and there will be violent protests. Therefore, the officials should act quickly,” he said.

There were arguments between IRB officials and the protesters as the national highway authority officials and IRB officials could not provide suitable answers to the plight of local people. The protesters said that similar protests were held about five times. “The officials do not take action after receiving our requests. Therefore, the people are fed up. The response this time should be given in writing,” they said.

The officials assured to begin necessary work tomorrow itself. A memorandum was submitted to the IRB officials later. The police convinced the protesters to conclude the protests.

Byndoor tahsildar Kiran Gorayya, national highway authority engineer Navin, I R B officer Srinivas, Toll general manager Gangadhar, Kundapur DySP Srikanth, Byndoor circle inspector Santhosh Kaikini, police station inspector Pavan Nayak, district panchayat former member S Raju Poojary, taluk panchayat former member Pushparaj Shetty, Shirur gram panchayat president G U Dilshad Begum, vice president Ravindra Shetty, Patel, Congress leader Pavan Kumar, youth Congress president Shekar Poojary, advocate Lingappa Shirur, gram panchayat members and police personnel were present.

Gram panchayat member Udaya Poojary Maidinapura gave an introduction. Shoaib Arehole compered the programme. Raghuram K Poojary rendered a vote of thanks.