Mounesh Vishwakarma

Daijiworld Media Network - Bantwal (SP)

Bantwal, Mar 16: Sajipanadu gram panchayat (GP) president Muhamed Nasir, has said that he is opposed to the order passed by Mangaluru assistant commissioner to begin processing of dry waste of Bantwal town at the processing facility at Kanchinadka Padavu within Sajipanadu panchayat limits with effect from Monday, March 16. He said that if the garbage van enters his village, the same will be blocked and protest will be held.

Referring to the meeting organized by the assistant commissioner at Bantwal municipal office, he said that he was invited to attend the meeting by a police official. He wanted to know why the president of the gram panchayat was not invited to the meeting held by the assistant commissioner as per procedures and rules. "Sajipanadu gram panchayat is facing injustice. The village is being exploited by the municipality. It is our duty to protest against it," he said. He charged the municipality of forcibly taking away nine acres of land in Sajipanadu village for waste processing unit and three more acres for multi-village drinking water project. He expressed the view that the district administration can set up waste processing unit after meeting the pending demands of the gram panchayat.

Why this opposition: He said that the panchayat is not opposed to the setting up of the unit. However, he wanted the concerned to meet the promises lawfully made earlier and promised to allow the unit to function thereafter. He also said that the concerned should abide by 21 conditions set out by the environment department. "Let them provide clear information to locals. Let them provide alternative systems to the local people. They should make suitable arrangements for school, Anganwadi, mosque etc," he remarked.

He also asked the district in-charge minister to convene a meeting with the presence of the local MLA, villagers, and local gram panchayat, under the leadership of the deputy commissioner. "Let all the advantages and disadvantages be discussed there. Thereafter let them process the waste," he said.

He felt that the municipality feels that disposing of waste is its priority. He said that for him, the feelings of the villagers are important, and the gram panchayat will act as per the feelings of the people and therefore opposes waste processing, he clarified. "If the municipality still overlooks the opposition and moves ahead to process the waste, I will complain to the district in-charge minister, and local MLA. Then I will raise the questions at a suitable forum," he stated.