Pics: Mounesh Vishwakarma
Daijiworld Media Network – Bantwal (SP)

Bantwal, Nov 12: Assistant commissioner of Mangalore revenue subdivision, Prabhulinga Kavalikatti, accepted petitions submitted by the residents of Sajipanadu gram panchayat, registering their protest against the proposed setting up of the dumping yard of Bantwal in their village, on Thursday November 11.

After visiting Kanchinadka village, which has been chosen as the site for the dumping yard, Kavalikatti arrived at Sajipanadu gram panchayat office to receive petitions. The locals, who had gathered at Kanchinadka during the official’s visit, explained to them the problems they envisage from the proposed yard. After receiving the petitions, he said he would report the matter to the district deputy commissioner. Tahsildar, Ravichandra Nayak, municipality chief officer, Jattanna, and other were present.

The people of the village later said that the assistant commissioner and Bantwal tahisldar had earlier promised to receive petitions and address a meeting. They expressed the suspicion, that the action of the officials in just accepting the applications and verifying the site were just an eyewash. The villagers had set up a Shamiyana, dais etc., near the panchayat office, and hundreds of villagers had come to attend the proposed meeting, which did not materialize.

Sajipanadu gram panchayat president, S K Mohammed, Ira gram panchayat president, Razack Kukkaje, zilla panchayat member, Ummer Farooq, various local representatives and office bearers of several organizations were present.