Protest against encroachment of Rajakaluve in BEML Nagar

Citizens staged a dharna at the H&P Nagar on Monday, protesting against the encroachment on the Main Canal at Bharatnagar, a layout in BEML Nagar.

The Main Canal, or Rajakaluve, passes near the road in Bharatnagar connecting Bethamangala and BEML Nagar. The secretary of the Ghattakamadhenahalli Gram Panchayat has been accused of letting it illegally to private parties, who are now attempting to close the canal.

As a result of such attempts by the private companies, residents of Bharatnagar are living in fear of rain water flooding the locality.

They are therefore insisting that action be taken against corrupt officers.

Land encroached

An allegation was also made on the occasion that private companies are trying to encroach 10 guntas of land belonging to the Employees' Cooperative Society of Bharatnagar.

The protesters demanded that the land belonging to the society be identified and handed over to it.

Two major demands of the area have remained unfulfilled since a long time. The residents of Bharatnagar, led by City Municipal Council member Shivaprasad Naidu, therefore submitted a memorandum recently to the District In-charge Minister.

Survey of area

Under orders from the Minister, officers visited the controversial area on Monday and investigated the matter.

Having waited long for the arrival of the Deputy Commissioner, the residents finally were informed by the revenue department officers that the commissioner would not be arriving.

Upset by this, hundreds of people came forward to block the roads in protest.
Police pacified them saying the area report by the survey department officers would be submitted to the Deputy Commissioner and the protesters.

Heavy police security was provided for the entire survey session.