Panchamikallu safe, says Samiti

Addressing the reporters on Thursday at Panchamikallu, office bearers of the Samiti said that the Samiti had given permission to the contractors to use the quarry in the outskirts of the area leaving Panchamikallu in the wake of laying Meguru, Bendehaklur road.

About two months ago road construction works were taken up at a distance of 300 metres from Panchamikallu and then the contractors had broken the quarry there, but the workers have been stopped since last month, they said. But at the sametime, the office bearers clarified that the contractors have not touched Panchamikallu and it is the conspiracy of some vested interest to obstruct the proceeding of road works.

They said that they have urged the MLA to see to it that the road is laid from Megunda Basti to Panchamikallu and for development of 5 acre land around Panchamikallu, which belongs to the Samiti.

Expalining the importance of Panchamikallu, they said that legends have it that about 600 years ago Karkala Alarasas had built a memorial arch in honour of Bhadra Bahu seer.
Further it is said that 5 Jain seers had attained nirvana after sitting on penance here. Hence, every year, Jain community of the region holds a ‘Thirthankara procession’ from Megunda Basti to Panchamikallu and offer anointment to ‘padukas’ there.

They said  that in such a case even a scratch on Panchamikallu will not be tolerated by the Jain community and warned of protest in case something goes wrong with Panchamikallu.