Protest disrupts traffic in C'magalur

BJP demands immediate release of funds

Demanding the State government to release funds immediately for initiating development works in the district, BJP workers staged road blocks at six places in Chikmagalur on Saturday.

The BJP blocked the road at KEB Circle, Kathrimaramma temple, NMC Circle, Kote, Bolarameshwara Circle and AIT Circle.

The previous BJP government had released Rs 36 crore for the development of the district. However, the Congress government has withheld Rs 30 crore.

There was a need to widen road at Kathrimaramma temple near Basavanahalli Kere, to facilitate the movement of vehicles. The bridge at Parvathipura is narrow and has been affecting smooth flow of traffic.

Responding to the needs of the people, the MLA had impressed upon the BJP government to sanction funds. However, the Congress government is not releasing funds for initiating the project. “The Deputy Commissioner is not signing the file for releasing Rs 30 crore to develop roads in Chikmagalur town. The Congress is engaged in hate politics,” the protesters said.

Leaders like Srikanth Pai, Sandeep, Leela, Ravi, Manjunath, Pushparaj, Ramesh staged protest at KEB Circle. The protest was led by Shanthala, Putte Gowda, Varasiddi Venugopal, T Rajashekar at Kathrimaramma temple.

The protest had disrupted movement of vehicles for more than one hour. The protest triggered traffic jam for hours with vehicles stranded for several miles at Hiremagalur. Passengers met inconvenioence without the availability of buses inside the city. The road was also blocked for few minutes on Mudigere road. The police arrested the protesters and were later released on bail.