Bantwal: Villagers stage sit-in whilst council meeting underway at Vittal

Bellevision Media Network

Bantwal, 6 Jul 2014: In a rare incident, the Vittal gram panchayat members staged a sit-in in front of the stage where the gram panchayat meeting was in progress alleging the meeting was held without convening none of ward  meetings and panchayat development officer (PDO) denied to allot house numbers to those poor who are living on encroached government land, being reported from Vittal, near here on Saturday July 5.

 
The first round of gram sabha of Vittal gram panchayat in 2014 – 15 was held at Government Model Higher Primary school, Vittal, near here on Saturday morning.

 
The protesters staged sit-in whilst the gram sabha began, protesting against PDO Vivekanand D who had denied house numbers to poor who were living in encroached state-owned lands.

 

 
The gram panchayat president Bhavani Rai Kolya said that the panchayat has written a letter to Deputy Commissioner to shortlist the beneficiaries.

 
PDO Vivekanand D said that he is not authorized to issue the house numbers because once the district authorities approve the application of legalization of encroached land the house numbers will be issued at the earliest, said PDO Vivekanand.

 
The gram panchayat vice president Abdul Kadri, TP member Juliana Mary Lobo and department officers were present on the occasion.