Mangalore, April 8: Agitated protestors of’ Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha and’ Hasiru Sene’staged a protest rally at A.B.Shetty circle on April 8,Monday to criticize the frequent and unscheduled power cuts in twin districts of Udipi and Dakshina Kannada.
Vijaya Hegde, State Vice-President of the KRRS, addressing the protestors said the people of the coastal region were the real victims of (main sufferers) due to frequent power cuts ever since diversion of power generated from Jog falls and UPCL to Bangalore and Hassan started.
The students from the coastal districts are the worst sufferers due to biased attitude of Electricity Department officials in supplying the power to the region and they are more keen on supplying the power to Bangalore and Hassan at the cost of students of Coastal region.
Without taking Students, as their examinations are in progress in to consideration, officials are erratically cutting the power, putting all the children in problem. With this attitude of the officials, it seems, they are trying to project as if, the students of coastal region are more inferior as compared to Bangalore and Hassan, which is at any cost not acceptable, he said.
MESCOM Vigilance SP Ravi Narayan tried to meddle and pacify the protestors but adamant protestors told him that they would only hold discussion with Sumanth-MD of MESCOM.
After much heated argument, the MESCOM MD-Sumanth finally came down to meet the representatives of the farmers and heed their grievances. The interaction was lasted for 45 minutes.
The farmers in their complaint to the MD of MESCOM alleged that Sheshappa Poojary-An Engineer of MESCOM, Uppinangadi unit, had removed their pump sets arbitrarily and even hatched a plot to imprison one of the members of the sangha on the fabricated story of assaulting him.
The farmers threatened to intensify their stir on April 9 by giving a deadline of 24 hours for conducting an enquiry in to the matter and take stringent action against those who found guilty.
MESCOM MD Sumanth assured that he will order an official enquiry into the matter and guilty will be punished seriously, if, the complaint proved correct.
Finally, the representatives of the Sangha submitted a memorandum to Sumanth enlisting their various demands to be met.
The MESCOM MD has assured the protestors to consider their demands.
Photo Source: Navya Anekal
