Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi

Udupi, Apr 15: The residents of Society Colony in Alevoor panchayat here have been frustrated over erratic and irregular supply of drinking water since the last two to three months. Although they had brought their plight to the attention of the officials and people's representatives, no remedial measures had been undertaken.

Thursday April 14 being the day of Ugadi celebrations as per solar calendar, the people were hopeful that they would get enough water to celebrate the festival in a fitting atmosphere. However, their hopes were dashed, as there was no water in the taps for about five days. A local, Prakash Rao, who was frustrated at the futile, unending wait for supply of tap water, undertook a unique measure of protest by spreading himself out on the road with a number of empty pitchers lined up around him. Over 50 locals supported Prakash in the protest.

Alevoor panchayat president, Srikant Nayak, and member, Harish Sherigar, visited the spot and held talks with the protesters. They pacified the angry crowd and promised to streamline water supply system to the area in the coming days. They said that arrangements would be made to supply water requirement of the colony through water tankers till the water supply through taps is streamlined.

As promised, they supplied water to the residents by summoning a water tanker there. Thereafter, the people withdrew their protest.

Alevoor panchayat president hits out at media on Facebook

Alevoor panchayat president Srikanth Nayak who was displeased with media persons who covered the protest took to Facebook to criticize them.

He along with panchayat member Harish Sherigar strongly criticized the media persons on Facebook, alleging that the media had 'twisted' the facts by not reporting all the statements made by panchayat president.

This angered the reporters. The panchayat for the past several months is reportedly supplying water once in three to four days to the Society Colony of Alevoor panchayat.

What really happened was this: The protests were over by the time the reporters reached the spot. Therefore, a local requested the people to protest again and clicked pictures on his phone and passed them on to the reporters. Later the media persons met with the locals and reported their statements. When his statement was sought, panchayat member Harish Sherigar denied any lapse on the part of the panchayat and argued with the reporters.

The panchayat president who provided water through tanker said that the media should not 'twist' the news. He also posted messages on Facebook criticizing the reporters. He even reporteldy gave false statements that media persons had 'forced' the locals to stage the protest.