Protest rally against the problems created by storage facility for crude oil near Padooru

Report and Pictures by Prakash Katapadi
Bellevision Media Network

Kaup, 11 August 2010: There is strong opposition of the people as the initial phase  of the work for setting up of a storage facility near  Padooru under the jurisdiction of the Majoor Grama Panchayat.  A large number of people  organised  a protest  rally on Monday, 9 August 2010 against the difficulties faced by the public due to the project. As a result of thee ongoing work on  the project the road that was constructed under the Pradhan mantra Grama Sadak Yojane has become muddy causing difficulties to the vehicles and common people using the road between UBMC School and Shantigudde.

Besides this problem the people of the region are facing other difficulties as well. Due to the explosives used to break the rocks and large stones the nearby houses have developed cracks. Preventing the mobility of the people on the road during the blast has been causing delay to the school children and the vehicular traffic. As there are no facilities of toilets or bathing places for the outstation people working on the project they use open space for these activities causing unhealthy atmosphere. Due to the movement of heavy vehicles, the roads and bridges would become unsafe.

Under the leadership of the Taluk Panchayat member Arun Shetty hundreds of people protested against this condition near UBMC Church, Padooru.  Though the people are not opposed to the storage facility at Padooru in principle, they are opposed to the adverse conditions created by this facility. Accepting the appeal from the agitators, Lalaji R. Mendon, the MLA of Kaup assured them that he will talk to ISPRL officials and convince them that while using explosives to blast the large stones they should not cause inconvenience to the people.

Mrs. Gladys D’Almeida-President of the Udupi Zilla Panchayat, Ganesh Shetty-President of the Majooru Grama Panchayat, Leeladhar Shetty Karandadi-former President of the Grama Panchayat, Vasudeva Rao-member of the Panchayat, Subramanya Aithal, Dr. Schidanand Shetty, Rev. Santosh Kumar-priest from UBMC Church were present during the protest rally along with the local women groups and students of  UBMC School.