Mohan Kuthar
Daijiworld Media Network - Bantwal

Bantwal, Apr 2: Villagers of Sambarathota of Fajir staged a protest here on Wednesday April 2 decrying lack of basic facilities and other anomalies by the government agencies in their village. They threatened to boycott elections if their demands were not met.

They claimed that the area was ruled by several political leaders of different parties over the years but they have only heard promises from them and seen little or no development.  It is common to see politicians coming during elections and making hollow promises, they said.

They said that when IT, BT companies set their foot, the companies and the government had made several promises of providing drinking water, street lights, drainage, employment opportunities according to qualifications etc.  But the company and the government have kept none of the promises.

"The company has dug the ground in its 40-acre campus and planted saplings. As most of the water is used for them, the people in the area are struggling for drinking water," they said.

"KIADB had promised to supply water to the villagers while laying pipes from dam which has not been fulfilled.  As there is no drainage, the waste water flows to the residential area. Qualified students have to wander from one village to another looking for jobs.  The company which started with promises of development has troubled the villagers," the protestors alleged.

"The companies which are of no use for the village have joined hands with the government to cheat villagers," they added.

The villagers threatened to intensify their protest and boycott the elections if adequate remedial steps are not taken by the concerned.  They warned that it would be better for the authorities to take suitable remedial action than to suffer damages and destruction by way of protests.