News by Inchara Digitals
Daijiworld Media Network—Udupi (RD/CN)
Udupi, Apr 7: Members of the district Raitha Sangh will stage ‘Barukolu Chaluvali’ in front of the residence of district-in-charge minister Dr V S Acharya who is acting as a spokesperson of the controversial Udupi Power Corporation Limited (UPCL) here, on Friday April 8.
Addressing media persons at a press conference held at Billavara Sangh auditorium, Padubidri, on Wednesday April 6, Vijaykumar Hegde, district president, Raitha Sangh, said that over 1,000 members of the Sangh will gather at the Service Bus Stand at 10.30 am on Friday and march to the residence of Dr Acharya.
“It will be staged to urge Governor Bharadwaj to sack Dr Acharya who is acting undemocratically without taking the people into confidence,” added Hegde.
“The UPCL that is functional at Yellur is an illegal establishment,” alleged Hegde. The Raitha Sangh will urge the Governor through Barukolu Chaluvali to instruct the judiciary to conduct legal proceedings against UPCL.
Hegde alleged that 2,500 acres of fertile land in the district will become a chemical dump by setting up PCPIR. “The setting up of SEZ, UPCL, Suzlon, ACC, etc which are environment polluting companies has driven the victims of land acquisition to the streets. The Western Ghats Task Force has imposed restrictions on Uttara Karnataka while clearing undivided Dakshina Kannada for setting up of mega industries, chiefly owing to the role of minister Dr Acharya,” he alleged.
Hegde said that the role of the minister is clear in the proposed project of Netravati River diversion, although Varahi tidal power project supplies electricity to Shimoga district. “The power generated from UPCL is supplied to the main grid in Hassan while the people in Udupi district have to bear the health and environmental hazard posed by flying ash and saline water seeping into the fertile farmlands”, he added.
Raitha Sangh district secretary Shashidar Shetty Yellur, spokesperson Ashok Poojary, Yermal unit vice-president Balachandra, Nandikoor unit president Aithappa Poojary, and Ashok Salian were present at the press conference.