'Half-naked' procession on I-Day

After a total of 119 families who lost their land in Tatkola started indefinie fast in front of the taluk office here, the local MLA  and other elected representatives had worked for getting compensation from the government.

“However, the sanctioned grant has not been released properly. The evacuees are staging protest against this attitude,” said Nirashritara Horata Samiti taluk Secretary B C Manjunath.

“The government released Rs 2.11 crore to the DC’s fund for the families lost their property in 2002. The DC had been directed to give Rs 75,000 to the evacuees to develop their land and coffee plantation. But he released only Rs 50,000 per acre to a total of 182 acres. Thus only Rs 1.36 crore has been released,” he stated in a memorandum sent to the government. As per the government order, an evacuated family need to be given Rs 50,000 towards the marriage of a girl belonging to it. Compensation should be given to a family, if its head passes away. But nothing has been done properly, he alleged.

“MLA Kumaraswmy has asked the DC to respond to these problems several times but in vain. Condemning this delay policy of the officials, all 119 families will take part in the scheduled half-naked procession,” he added.