Rons Bantwal
Daijiworld Media Network—Bantwal (RD/CN)
Bantwal, Sep 28: Vittal police arrested two members of a family, residing at Anilakatte, near Vittal, on Tuesday September 27, for causing hindrance to road work. The zilla panchayat began the road work on government land adjacent to land owned by Surangadamule Meenakshi at Anilakatte, in Kasaba village, near Vittal, on Monday September 26.
Meenakshi’s brother-in-law Kaniccharu Sankappa Gowda began protesting on Tuesday September 27 by erecting a tent in front of the earthmover, thereby stalling the work. Vittal police arrested Sankappa Gowda and his cousin Honnappa Gowda and presented them before the Tahsildar’s court.
The district magistrate’s court issued a stay order against the revenue department on Friday September 24, for destroying the crop cultivated on government land and vacated the order on Monday September 26. Meanwhile, the zilla panchayat ordered that the road be laid on the land cleared of crops.
The revenue department ordered destruction of 150 areca plants, 33 palms, and over 50 banana plants. The land owned by Meenakshi was located beside the government land. There was a road to go to Poorlappady.
Meenakashi’s sons Honnappa, Gopalakrishna, and Vasant encroached on the government land and made provision tfor the road at a corner of the land.
The local people expressed anguish over the difficult stretch of road by relocating the Kadambu–Anilakatte–Poorlappady public road. The local people complained to the assistant commissioner and deputy commissioner about encroaching on government land and causing hindrance to road users. The legal battle was going on between Meenakshi’s family and the general public for over 25 years.
As per taluk panchayat member P B Dharmavati, Meenakshi’s family has been causing hindrance to the laying of a public road on government land. The road will benefit several families residing in Poorlupady–Anilakatte. It also links Kolnad village. Under Gram Sadak Yojana, Rs 1.24 cr was sanctioned to develop the road, but the funds lapsed since Meenakshi’s family did not allow the road to be laid.