Udupi: Nagarjuna Antagonists Resort to 'Shirtless' Protest - Pics

Pics and inputs- RK Durga Digitals
for Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (NR)

Udupi, Aug 14:  The deputy commissioner C V Ponnuraj was briefed here on Monday August 13 by the office- bearers of the Nagarjuna Virodhi Horata Samiti (NVHS), about the problems faced by the villagers of Yellur, Santhur and neighboring villages near Padubidri, where a 1,015 MW coal-based Nagarjuna power project is being implemented. 

After the meeting with the DC, the protesters led by the Samithi’s executive committee president Vijay Kumar Hegde, working president Lakshman Shetty, Kaup MLA Lalaji Mendan, the former MLA Vasanth Salian, president of the Dakshina Kannada Mogaveera Mahajana Sangha Pramod Madhwaraj and others, staged a dharna in front of the DC’s office,  and started shouting slogans against the authorities here protesting against what they termed “atrocities committed” by Nagarjuna Power Corporation Ltd. (NPCL).

The committee president Hegde alleged that they were being treated like slaves by the authorities and did not expect any justice from the higher-ups like the DC and SP, as is evident from the treatment meted out to them by the DC and SP when they met them, he added. Having stated this, both removed their shirts and started beating themselves using a belt in protest.

The protester’s major grouse was that coal-based Nagarjuna power project was being implemented without conducting any Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) despite an order of the Supreme Court. The land acquisition process is done in violation of all norms, they informed.

Moreover disgusted at the high handedness of the security men posted at the site, they felt that “goondas” have been hired by NPCL as security guards, who were even harassing and ill-treating women in the villages, they alleged. These guards were not allowing people from the villages to use the roads. The company has illegally installed electric poles and the poles for fencing on patta land of some private owners making it difficult for the residents to move about freely. Trees worth crores of rupees had been cut down in the Nagarjuna project site area, but no action has been taken, they added. 

Deputy commissioner V Ponnuraj said the district administration cannot interfere in the decisions of the Union and State governments and matters which were in the court. He requested the protesters to give individual complaints in writing.

The protesters even met the superintendent of police A S Rao, who assured them that he would study the complaints and take action. Later the protesters told reporters that they will intensify their protest.