Udupi: Dist Raita Sangha Stages ‘Barukolu Movement’ - Urges Guv to Shutdown UPCL

News & Pics: Hemanath Padubidri
Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (RD/SB)

Udupi, Apr 8: The district Raita Sangha staged ‘Barukolu Movement’ here on Friday April 8, in order to urge Governor H R Bhardwaj to sack the district-in-charge minister Dr V S Acharya over the environment-polluting thermal plant set up by Udupi Power Corporation Limited (UPCL).

Addressing the gathering, the state Raita Sangh president Kodihalli Chandrashekar set an ultimatum to the state administration, in order to shut down the thermal power plant of UPCL by Saturday April 30, as the thermal plant has been posing both health and environmental hazard since it began functioning in the district.  

The activists of district Raita Sangha gathered at service bus stand, here and marched till the residence of minister Dr V S Acharya at Kalsanka, here. The activists also hurled slogans against minister Dr Acharya. The policemen arrested the activists at the location and released them later.

The protestors led by Raita Sangha district president Vijaykumar Hegde presented a memorandum to acting deputy commissioner T N Prabhakar to forward it to the Governor H R Bharadwaj on the occasion.

Raita Sangha activists from Padubidri, Mudarangady, Hejamady, Yellur, Yermal, Palimar and neighbouring villages that are affected by the environmental pollutants released from the thermal plant of UPCL were present.