Villagers stage protest against ISPRL project

Speaking on the occasion, Majoor Taluk Panchayat member Arun Shetty said that the ongoing construction works on the main stretch connecting Padur UBMC School and Shanthigudde is filled with problems. The serial landmine blasts in the site has put the residents of surrounding areas into trouble. The houses are damaged. No security for the children who attend Anganawadi and nearby school as the lorries ply in the region frequently.

Heroor UBMC School Headmistress Shalee Kunder said there are about 70 children studying in the school. Parents are worried over the security of their children.  The school and the church are in the same compound premises. If the area is fenced, then the school and church will be cut off from the outside world, she said.

Anganawadi worker Vatsala Shetty said the labourers employed in the site create additional problems to the already existing problems. They use wells and toilets of the neighbouring houses without permission. The entire stretch has been damaged due to continuous plying of lorries.  The  project is coming up in a vast area of 67.75 acres land at the cost of Rs 376 crore. The 36 months project is third of its kind in the country and the others are situated at Vishakapatnam and Mangalore. The work at Padur is undertaken jointly by Engineering India Company and South Korea Engineering Construction Company Limited. The work is expected to complete by 2013.

Kaup MLA Lalaji Mendon said “as the project comes under Central government, we are unable to stop the project. The same was in the case with Nagarjuna and Suzlon project.”

Site Manager assured that measures will be taken immediately. Adjacent road will be constructed to minimise the problem.

The labourers will be provided with basic facilities so that they don’t trouble the residents, he added.

ZP President Gladys Almeida, Majoor Gram Panchayat President Ganesh Shetty, Members Subraya Aithal, Vasudev Rao, Fr K Santhosh Kumar, Leeladhar Shetty and others were present.