Inchara Udupi
Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (VM)

Udupi, Aug 12: The residents of Padabettu on Friday August 10 opposed the alleged illegal stocking of pipes at Padabettu, by stopping lorries transporting huge pipes on the national highway. It is said that the pipes were stocked without the approval of Padubidri gram panchayat, which angered the residents.

Sources said that Jindal Company had kept the stock at Shekar Devadiga’s property at Paadebettu which was taken on lease. Heavy vehicles carrying huge pipes caused damage to the roads and hence locals stopped the vehicles passing from inner road at Padebettu.

As soon as the information reached the ears of the gram panchayat, the panchayat officials said that holding stock of pipes without the license from panchayat is an offense. “In this regard a meeting will be held in the presence of the Jindal company owner and Shekar Devadiga,” they added.

A meeting was held in which officials said that a fence should be created at Devadiga’s place where the pipes are stored. Localites complained that as many as 700 pipes are yet to be transported by the company and this will damage the road completely.

“It was decided that a sum of Rs 10 lac will be sanctioned by the gram panchayat for re-construction of roads. Jindal Company has also agreed to stop transporting pipes until further discussions” said Mamatha Y Shetty, development officer of gram panchayat.