Daijiworld News Network - Udupi (GA)
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Udupi, Nov 9: The survey work in the 57 acres of land under the proposed Nagarjuna Thermal Power Plant at Kemmandelu and Bandasale near Nandikur here was postponed owing to protest by office bearers and members of Nandikur Janajagruti Samiti, Nagarjuna Protest Committee, elected representatives and locals.

As reported earlier, the district administration had ordered for survey in the proposed area.  Extra police personnel were appointed on the site to meet any unwanted situation.  Accordingly when it was decided to start survey work, the protestors gathered in large numbers and stalled the work.

MP Manorama Madhwaraj, Kaup MLA Lalaji Mendon, former MP Vinay Kumar Sorake, former minister Vasant V Salian, NJJS president Laxman L Shetty, Premanand Kalmadi and others led the protest. ASP Sathish Kumar who had taken charge of security measures had to be on the defensive after the protestors as well as the company people refused to move from the place.  While the company people were of the opinion that they have all the necessary records for the survey, the locals said that they would never allow to establish Nagarjuna.

Meanwhile Manorama Madhwaraj called Lanco (which has secured major shares in Nagarjuna) head and MP Rajgopal over the phone and explained the situation to him.  After a lot of deliberations, he said to have agreed to postpone the survey work till November 16. 

The same message was conveyed to the district administration and around 4 pm ASP announced that the survey work had been postponed for some days.  It was only then that the protestors moved away from the spot.

Though the situation seems to be under control right now, the area is like a boiling cauldron.  Both the parties have their own views.  The locals are divided in two groups.  Each has equal number of supporters.  Political parties still seem to be confusion.  While BJP MP is opposing Nagarjuna, district in-charge minister Dr V S Acharya has held on to his earlier views and is still supporting it.  Amidst all this chaos there is an outcry also that a few leaders from both parties are taking people for ride and using them to fulfill their personal agendas.