A Union delegation on Friday visited various places in the district affected by the recent heavy rains. However, a troupe led by a ZP member staged a rasta roko near Chettimani, terming the visit as one ‘for namesake’ for not receiving any petitions from the localites.
ZP member P M Rajiv and supporters alleged that the visit of the team that included Planning Commission (SP South) Director Sujatha Sharma and Ms Nalini Pathak of Financial Committee, was “nothing but a picnic”.
“Except viewing a paddy field covered by water near Bhagamandala, the delegation conducted the survey sitting inside the car. Their travel from Madikeri via Madenadu, Bettattur was in a way a waste expedition. They did not even get down at a place on Karike road where much damages had occurred due to land slide, which was a witness to their laziness,” the members complained.
Returning to Bhagamandala via Karike road, the delegation received a memorandum from Bhagamandala-Talacauvery Temple Committee President Narayanachar near Triveni Sangama.
Mr Achar urged the delegation to recommend for laying an overbridge in Bhagamandala as a permanent solution, for the famous pilgrim centre becomes an island almost during every monsoon.
The delegation then visited Talacauvery and offered pooja. On their way of retreat, the troupe led by Mr Rajiv blocked the Bhagamandala-Ayyangeri road to protest the way in which the survey was conducted. However, knowing this, the delegation took a diversion and travelled by another route.
But the protesters followed the delegation, overtook all cars, and blocked them near Chettimani and staged a dharna. Mr Rajiv complained that the delegation did not receive a single complaint from the rain affected people at least for courtesy, and asked what was the actual purpose of their assessment.
Residents of six villages suffer miseries when the Napoklu-Ayyangeri road is submerged in every rainy season. But the delegation did not listen to such problems at all, the protesters pointed out.
At this stage, Deputy Commissioner K R Niranjan intervened and held talks with them. “Being a ZP member, if you have assessed any loss, give me that and I’ll study it. It is not right to block the Union delegation. They have to travel 200-300 kms in 7-8 hours. I’ll be with you,” he told Mr Rajiv.
Despite this din, the delegation members had not got down from their cars.