Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (TP)
Udupi, Mar 24: Former MLA Raghupati Bhat on March 24 afternoon called off his protest (dharna) in front of the Urban Development Authority (UDA) office after officials submitted a single layout permission letter concerning his application for single-layout approval.
Bhat had started the protest earlier on March 23 at 9.30 am, levelling serious allegations against sitting MLA Yashpal Suvarna and UDA commissioner Mahesh, accusing them of deliberately delaying the approval process. He claimed that despite submitting all necessary paperwork, the proposal had been kept pending without valid justification.
The protest drew attention from party workers, local residents, and officials, as Bhat demanded immediate clarification and action from the authorities. He also alleged administrative lapses and raised concerns over transparency in the functioning of the Udupi Urban Development Authority.
Following the protest, Udupi Urban Development Authority commissioner Mahesh met Bhat at the protest site and handed over the relevant legal documents related to the case. After reviewing the documents, Bhat decided to withdraw his protest.
Former MLA Raghupathi Bhat said, “The Urban Development Authority has finally granted me temporary layout approval. This should have been issued within three months but was delayed by nearly two years. I do not wish to dwell on the past; I am satisfied that I received justice after staging a protest. This approval came purely through legal means, without the use of any influence. Some have accused me of not following the law, but I choose not to respond to them as the approval itself is my answer. Had I not protested, this would have been delayed even further. I urge the authorities not to create obstacles for my business going forward. It is unfortunate and a black mark on Udupi’s development that I had to protest for a day and a half to secure this.
“My fight will now continue on behalf of the public. Many people, including those from the Ambagilu–Perampalli road area, are still waiting for their TDR despite surrendering land for roads—be it churches, mosques, temples, or small landholders. Even those with valid documents are waiting endlessly for approvals. I will continue my struggle for their rights. Despite the presence of district authorities and urban bodies, the system has failed to deliver TDRs efficiently. The authority has become a hub of mismanagement. We are set a deadline of April 12, failing which the protest will resume. Some who once supported me are now speaking against me, but since I have acted within the law, I expect them to understand. I have no intention to target anyone, but I had to name the MLA as the issue arose from that side. If my businesses are not disturbed, I am willing to move past these issues. However, if I am personally targeted, I will not hesitate to fight back.”
Mahesh, the commissioner, said, “The temporary single-layout approval has been issued after obtaining a legal opinion and is subject to certain conditions. Final approval will be granted once the road handover process is completed. The earlier application had been closed, but based on directions from the commissioner’s office last month, the approval has now been issued. I have instructed all officials to ensure that applications are processed within the stipulated timeframe, and the involvement of middlemen will not be tolerated.”