News & Pics: Silvester D’Souza

Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapur (EP)

Kundapur, May 7: Locals on Friday, May 6 waylaid lorries laden with mud and protested against raising the height of eight acres land near lake Sooladpu which could hinder the flow of water and create artificial flood in Giliyaru, Kota panchayat limits.

The land is being raised by filling mud for commercial purposes and could result in natural calamities alleged people.

The work of raising the height of land by filling mud has been going on for the last two weeks. Anxious villagers fear that it could result in floods and other natural calamities as it will obstruct flow of water. They had complained about it to Kota panchayat. Kota panchayat development officer Subhash Kharvi and zilla panchayat member Raghavendra Kanchan had come to inspect the site and instructed the owners to take precautionary measure. The owners of the land had assured to ensure that the work will not block water and were given a week’s time.

Even after a week, the work continued disregarding the concerns of the villager. Locals who inspected the place found that the workers were filling the lake and stream with mud. Therefore they gathered on Friday May 6, waylaid the lorries bringing mud and protested.

A petition was also handed over to zilla panchayat member Raghavendra Kanchan, insisting that the land owners show the map of their purchased land, follow the rules as
per NGT order, construct a buffer zone around the lake and accept the responsibility for future floods.

Kota panchayat vice-president Kota Rajaram Shetty, members Ajith Devadiga, Santhosh Prabhu, Pandu, Vasanth Giliar of Trishul Associates, Arun Shetty Padmane, Ashok Shetty Bannadi, former taluk panchayat member Bharath Kumar Shetty, Shanker Narayana Herle, Prasad Shetty Padumane, Raghavendra Shetty Handikere Mane, Sathish Shetty Badamane, Haridasa Mayya, Kumar Devadiga, Prakash Herle, Subrahmanya Herle, Suresh Poojary, Subhash Poojary and others were present.