Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Dec 23: The autorickshaw drivers, supported by the local people, staged a protest in Panambur near here, alleging that unregulated movement of trucks loaded with ore, coal, and urea in Koorikatta adjacent to Panambur Beach Road has been heaping sufferings on the people because of the environmental pollution caused by them. They registered their anger by blocking movement of trucks in the area.

The protestors demanded for the personal appearance of officials of New Mangalore Port Trust, Kudremukh Iron Ore Company Ltd and Mangalore Chemicals and Fertilizers, to the spot, to give them concrete assurances about future plans to stop pollution, as most of the trucks moving here relate to these companies. It may be recalled that such a protest had been staged in the past too, and movement of goods trucks in the area had been banned then. The protestors said that in addition to the movement of trucks, transportation through railway wagons too has been going on the area, bothering them further.

The other demand of the protestors was to remove the newly laid road divider laid on national highway 17 between Bykampady and Chitrapur Road. They alleged that the laying of road divider has been causing road accidents, besides contributing to the gravity of vehicular traffic at Bykmapady Junction, as the vehicles are forced to reach there before taking a U turn to reach Chitrapur.

Official of National Highways Authority of India, Ram Kumar, and assistant commissioner of police, Puttamadaiah, gave patient hearing to the grievances of the people and promised to look into all the issues concerned. Panambur inspector of police, Valentine D’Souza, former city mayor, Ganesh Hsabettu, Yatish Bykampady of Beach Development Project, city corporator, Santosh, and several other leaders were present.