Silvester Dsouza
Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapur (RJP)
Kundapur, Nov 9: A symbolic one day fast by Kollur Parashurama Sene and Kodachadri Parisara Samrakshana Trust was observed demanding to save River Souparnika and to keep Kollur clean.
“We had already complained about the state of Souparnika River to the district administration. They had promised that measures would be taken to purify the river. But the river is still in bad state with the dirty water flowing in. In Hindu way of life, water is as important as God,” said Sri Isha Vittaldasa Swamiji of Kemar Math who had taken the leadership of the fast.
“Kollur has become more a commercial than a religious place. The visitors are being looted with inflated tariff in lodges. This should stop. The local administration also has failed. The temples other than Mookambika temple in Kollur should also be developed. Kollur temple should consider locals for recruitment and other purposes.” Kemar Sri added.
Before the fast started a petition was given to the chief minister through the Kollur temple administration. Krishna Prasad Adyanthaya the president of Kollur temple administration and L S Maruthi the chief executive officer, Rajesh Tallur Dr Atulkumar Shetty, Krishnamurthy and Ramakrishna Adiga were present in the meeting.
Krishna Prasad Adyanthaya promised that temple would do everything possible to keep the town and rover clean. He also said that the government has already been approached in this regard and reply is awaited.
K Sabu the Hindu leader criticized the politicians and authorities for the inefficiency in maintaining cleanliness and order in Kollur and for overcharging the visitors. He said that the struggle would continue till they got justice.
The fast continued till evening.
Kemar Swamiji at one point got angry with the Kollur temple administration for keeping the temporary fence closed with lock near Anebagilu location of Kollur during the procession. But he was pacified by the temple authorities who explained the reason being that of security.
Swamiji opined that temple should also participate in the protest to make Kollur a better place.
K K Sabu, Harish Tholar, Kumaraswamy Barkur, Vinod Subhash Sangam, Pradeep Sangam, Sudhir Kaup, Prathviraj Kundapur were present during the fast.