Lack of basic facilities, villagers to boycott LS polls

Residents of a few villages in Mudigere taluk have threatened to boycott the Lok Sabha elections if their long-pending demands like supply of water and roads are not met.

Addagudde, Maddikere  in Urubage gram panchayat, Kooduhalli, Sathihalli, Saalugumbri in Banakal gram panchayats have put up a banner informing the authorities on their decision. The villagers do not have basic facilities including drinking water, road, bridge, and anganwadi centre. 

The villagers of Alekhan Horatti, one of the remote hamlet in the taluk had announced boycott in the last assembly elections. However, then DC Yashvanthkumar visited the village and convinced the villagers to withdraw their decision.

He had even promised of releasing funds under special category to repair the road after the completion of electioneering process. The road has not seen any development even after one year. The residents have been facing hardship in reaching their village especially during monsoon.

Shortage of water is one the reason for boycotting the election in these villages. There is no shortage of sources of water in Malnad. However, owing to the unscientific water projects taken up by the officials and elected representatives have resulted in shortage of water.

Inspite of spending lakh of rupees to overcome the woes of the people, the residents continue to reel under water crisis, said residents. “The roads in the taluk are in deplorable condition. A few roads have not seen asphaltation for the last 20 years,” said residents.