“We will continue the indefinite strike until the State government assures to redress the problems of drinking water, lack of power supply and other civic problems plaguing Chintamani taluk,” informed legislator M C Sudhakar to the Deccan Herald.
The indefinite strike is being carried out to build pressure on the State government and the officials concerned to address various civic problems in the taluk, he added. Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa had assured to grant Rs 5 crore to resolve drinking water crisis in the taluk, last March. However, the demand for drinking water, one of the foremost basic needs, remains unattended to even to this day. The sight of people struggling for drinking water in several villages is heartrending, the legislator said.
Efforts to change electric poles on M G Road and Chelur Road remains unfulfilled. Unless the electric poles are removed the roads cannot be asphalted. As the asphalting work is delayed the rate quoted for the work keeps on increasing. Due to the increasing rates the contractors are hesitant to undertake the work, he explained.
The Deputy Commissioner so far has been apathetic towards the woes of people. At a Janaspandana programme held recently people belonging to the Scheduled Caste community, who had lost their homes to heavy rains at Uppapete gheraoed the Deputy Commissioner and took him to show the havoc created by heavy rains in their colony, elaborated the protesters. The Deputy Commissioner is reluctant to release funds under the Natural Calamity Relief Funds for the construction of walls to the canal, thereby, protecting the SC colony, he observed.
In addition to this there is a lot of corruption in the Bescom Department with regard to repairs, change of transformers and drawing of 11 KV lines. The Bescom officials are intentionally delaying repair of defunct transformers. As a result the activities of farmers and supply of drinking water in the villages have been severely hit, the protesters explained.
The Revenue Department is flooded with problems related to granting of old-age pension, change of khatas, land survey etc. Also, from the past few months villagers have been struggling to secure land for the construction of bhavan belonging to Child Welfare Department. The villagers have also been unable to get land for holding shandy, they added.
Bundh largely peaceful
Bundh called on Sunday, as a mark of expressing solidarity with the people on indefinite strike from the past five days against lack of drinking water, power supply and harassment of civilians by the Revenue Department in Chintamani, was successful. Chintamani wore a deserted look on Sunday since morning on account of the bundh, despite it being a shandy day.
MG Road, Double Road, PCR Complex and other commercial areas that are generally flooded with people and abuzz with activities was desolate. KSRTC buses and private buses did not ply on the road and even the movement of autorickshaws was restricted.
Except for a few two wheelers the re was no movement of vehicles. Cinema halls, petrol bunks and other commercial establishments had downed their shutters. As it was a Sunday, the functioning of government offices and schools were not obstructed.
The bundh was observed in each and every village in the taluk. Rasta roko was staged on Chintamani -Bangalore Road, Chintamani - Kolar Road, Chintamani - Shidlaghatta Road and Chintamani - Chelur Road in the taluk. Even though the general public were informed about the bundh two days ago, several people who had come from rural areas were found stranded at bus stands.
Buses and lorries coming from Andhra Pradesh were stopped at villages. The indefinite strike being held in front of the Taluk office was continued on Sunday. Barring a few minor instances of verbal duel the bundh was largely peaceful.