Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (SP)

Udupi, May 10: The farmers from Padebettu, Santoor Kolachchur and surrounding villages, who are frustrated at the problems created by the power plant of Udupi Power Corporation Ltd (UPCL) in their neighbourhood, were waiting at the travellers bungalow here on Monday, relying on the promise made by the Chief Minister, B S Yeddyurappa, to meet them and hear their grievances.

Yeddyurappa, who had taken part in the Ati Rudra Yaaga at Kutyar, was to meet them and listen to their grievances against UPCL. But, at the last minute, he cancelled the visit and flew to Sagar by helicopter directly.

“We will ensure that the CM does not visit the district till UPCL is shut down. If he has the guts, let him accept our challenge and set foot in Udupi district,” challenged Shashidhar Shetty and Prakash Shetty, on behalf of the affected people. The Raita Sangha leaders were told that the CM would meet the affected people and receive petitions from the concerned, besides meeting farmer leaders at the travellers bungalow at 10 am on Monday.

Speaking to reporters at Kutyar, the CM had expressed his readiness to discuss the UPCL issue with everyone including Pejavar Swamiji and Raita Sangha leaders. After it became clear that he had failed to keep his promise, the farmers raised slogans against the state government, CM, minister, Dr Acharya, and UPCL. They entered into verbal duel with the policemen at the gates of the travellers’ bungalow. The farmer leaders refused to a suggestion made on behalf of the CM that three to four farmers among them may come to the helipad and hand over their petition to Yeddyurappa personally. They said that this is not a personal issue, as several villages are affected.

The farmers were angry that the CM, who set aside time to visit the houses of MLA, Raghupati Bhat, and minister, Dr Acharya, failed to meet them even though the travellers bungalow was only a couple of hundred metres away from the road he used for his travel, and that about 50 of them were waiting for his arrival.