<p>Hundreds of villagers from Athigundi, Mahal, Bisagni mutt, Kesavinamane, Pandaravalli, Ukuda, Chandragiri and Gowrishankara staged a protest against the district administration’s move to collect entry fee and issuance of passes to enter Mullayyanagiri and Inam Dattadreya Peeta. </p><p>Along with villagers, vehicle drivers and merchants voluntarily observed bandh and<br>took out a jatha to gram panchayat office.</p><p>They demanded that the decision on collection of fee and issue of passes should be dropped. A memorandum was submitted through panchayat development officer, on the occasion. </p><p><strong>‘Should’ve consulted us’</strong></p><p>The protesters reasoned that the decision on issuing passes to travel to hilly areas should have been taken after consulting the villagers. </p><p>“Over seven thousand people reside beyond the check-post. If events such as weddings or deaths occur, should relatives and friends coming from faraway places have to arrive only with a pass?” they questioned.</p><p>“If such a decision is implemented, then even for any event, family members will be forced to plead at the check-post,” they rued.</p><p><strong>Lone bus service</strong></p><p>“There is only one bus service a day to the hilly range area, and unlike earlier, no private buses operate now. Apart from that, most villages can only be accessed by private vehicles.</p><p>“Additionally, if locals need a pass to go for work in plantations, construction sites, or elsewhere within the area, it will become extremely difficult for them to earn a living,” they said.</p><p>They demanded the district administration to withdraw its decision to collect entry fee and issuance of passes in the hilly region.</p>
<p>Hundreds of villagers from Athigundi, Mahal, Bisagni mutt, Kesavinamane, Pandaravalli, Ukuda, Chandragiri and Gowrishankara staged a protest against the district administration’s move to collect entry fee and issuance of passes to enter Mullayyanagiri and Inam Dattadreya Peeta. </p><p>Along with villagers, vehicle drivers and merchants voluntarily observed bandh and<br>took out a jatha to gram panchayat office.</p><p>They demanded that the decision on collection of fee and issue of passes should be dropped. A memorandum was submitted through panchayat development officer, on the occasion. </p><p><strong>‘Should’ve consulted us’</strong></p><p>The protesters reasoned that the decision on issuing passes to travel to hilly areas should have been taken after consulting the villagers. </p><p>“Over seven thousand people reside beyond the check-post. If events such as weddings or deaths occur, should relatives and friends coming from faraway places have to arrive only with a pass?” they questioned.</p><p>“If such a decision is implemented, then even for any event, family members will be forced to plead at the check-post,” they rued.</p><p><strong>Lone bus service</strong></p><p>“There is only one bus service a day to the hilly range area, and unlike earlier, no private buses operate now. Apart from that, most villages can only be accessed by private vehicles.</p><p>“Additionally, if locals need a pass to go for work in plantations, construction sites, or elsewhere within the area, it will become extremely difficult for them to earn a living,” they said.</p><p>They demanded the district administration to withdraw its decision to collect entry fee and issuance of passes in the hilly region.</p>
