Daijiworld Media Network - Karwar (SP)

Karwar, Aug 29: The villagers from Nandangadda area of the district have returned the two palanquins fisheries minister Anand Asonotikar had gifted to two temples of the region, in protest against the minister's failure to stand by them in their fight against the execution of Hanakona thermal power plant in the district. They hope that this symbolic whip-lash will awaken the government out of its slumber and will sound them to be more sensitive to their problems.

The villagers, mostly comprising of fishermen, claim that Asnotikar had stated during his visit to the two temples, that he would oppose the Hanakona power plant, the setting up of which, has robbed the sleep of the residents there. They have been claiming that the plant will destroy their livelihood as well health, besides resulting in the destruction of large tracts of forest.

The minister had gifted the wooden palanquins to Alavewada Narasimha Katta temple and Kattinakona Gajaki temple, as per his earlier assurance, after being elected as MLA in the year 2005. The villagers said, the palanquins are being returned, as the minister failed to keep up the promise he made at the temple during his visit.

The villagers brought the palanquins near Sukeri Ganapati temple in the town, where they performed certain rituals to symbolically disassociate the palanquins from the possession of the temples. As the procession carrying the palanquins approached the minister's residence, the policemen stopped them with the help of barricades. The villagers then dropped the palanquins in front of the minister's home and went back.

Tahsildar Shivanandamurty, who was at the spot, took possession of the palanquins with the help of the policemen.