Pics: Meryick D'Silva
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (MD)
Mangalore, Jun 10: Locals of Kunjathbail and Marakada areas on Tuesday June 10 protested by blocking the road and stopping vehicles for not completing the concreting work on the road here.
A resident of Kunjathbail, sharing his grievance with the media, said, "It has been two years since the MCC started the work, and now it has completely stopped. In some areas only one side of the road has been completed and the other side left untouched.
"No concrete has put and now with rainy season, people are going to get hurt when commuting. A 4th standard child, Lalitha from the government school, was injured when an auto rickshaw rammed into her while she was crossing the road. She has been admitted to AJ hospital. Four months ago an elderly person met with an accident at the same spot and died."
"Area corporator K Mohammed never responded to any of our requests. He himself has issued stay order on the road work, as his land comes in the way and is not allowing anyone to take decision on the matter. Today when we started to protest, he came out to say that the road cannot be concreted. People are not ready to give their land to construct the road," he added.
In addition to the road problem, there are no footpaths in the area where two schools are located. One is a government school and the other, Noble School. Children have to be very careful while walking on the road, the protestors said.
Incidentally, Noble School belongs to none other than the ward corporator K Mohammed.
Mangalore North MLA Mohiuddin Bava visited the spot and tried to pacify the people. However, the protestors started demanding that the deputy commisssioner come to the spot and give a solution.
When the people started arguing with him, Bava held talks with the corporator and at the end, the corporator agreed to let one-and-a-half meters of his land for the road.
MLA Mohiuddin Bava then conveyed the agreement to the people who were gathered. "The work is going to start by afternoon and interlocks will be placed in the empty areas as a temporary solution," he said.
He also said that he has informed the PWD to start the work and to get all the machines required to complete the road.
Marakada corporator Harinath and others were also present during the protest.