Pics: Inchara Digitals
Daijiworld Media Network—Udupi (RD/CN)
 
Udupi, Jan 11: The residents of Belapu gram panchayat staged a protest on Monday January 10 opposing the plying of tipper trucks laden with soil in the remote villages. 
 
The residents led by Belapu gram panchayat president Deviprasad Shetty alleged that rural roads and minor culverts have been destroyed due to the plying of tipper trucks laden with soil. 

The tipper trucks are transporting soil to landfills for real estate developers in the fast developing coastal city.  The residents alleged that despite repeated pleas to the deputy commissioner and Tahsildar in the past over the issue, no action has been taken by the concerned authorities. 
 
ZP member Arun Shetty Padoor, Belapu gram panchayat vice-president Niranjan Shetty Paniyoor, gram panchayat members Prakash Rao and Suresh Devadiga, locals Yogish Poojary, Prakash Kotian, Lokesh Shetty and hundreds of residents participated in the protest.
 
Meanwhile, the agitators were further aggrieved after a trailer laden with a Hitachi earthmover damaged the welcome arch erected at the entrance of Belapu village on Monday Jevening.
 
The agitators led by Deviprasad Shetty lodged a complaint with Shirva police demanding the owner of the trailer and Hitachi earthmover repair the damaged welcome arch.