Mounesh Vishwakarma
Daijiworld Media Network—Bantwal (RD)

Bantwal, Jan 11: Activists of the block Congress committee staged a protest at Sornad, near here, on Tuesday January 10, urging Mangalore Special Economic Zone Limited (MSEZL) authorities to stall the ongoing jack-well work and laying of pipeline in Amtady and Sarapady villages.

The contractor of MSEZ is engaged in this work to draw water from the Netravati River, without the knowledge of local village councils. Once the jack-well is ready and pipeline network completed, it will enable onward distribution.

Addressing the protesters, TP former president and PLD Bank chairman Sudarshan Jain said that the ongoing work has withered the rural roads causing damage to water bodies besides damaging private properties.

The protesters laid a blockade on the Moodbidri – B C Road state highway demanding that MSEZ officers come to the spot.  When the officers arrived, they urged MSEZ authorities to stall the work.  The protest was called off only after the authorities assured them of stopping the ongoing work.

Town council members Riyaz Hussein, block Congress committee president Mayilappa Salian, Congressmen Vishwanat Mani, Suresh Adikari, Jagannat Thumbe, Richard Menezes, Dinesh Shetty, and Rolphy D’Souza were present on the occasion.

Bantwal rural police provided security on the occasion.