Raitha Sangha activists go semi-nude protesting cancellation of public-hearing on UPCL

Udupi, October 17: Activists of Udupi unit of Raitha Sangha headed by its president Vijay Kumar Hegde and Vice President of Nandikur Jana Jagrithi Samithi Madhava Shetty, on Monday staged a half nude protest against the government apathy in holding the public hearing on the ill effects of UPCL power plant, in front of the DC Office here.

In the beginning hundreds of agitators come from Padubidri, Yellur, and other places affected by the coal based UPCL power plant, had staged a peaceful dharna infront of the DC office. They had also brought two bottles of water samples, which was polluted by the power plant, from their open wells in Padubidri region, to be gifted to the Deputy Commissioner. They were protesting against the Deputy Commissioner MT Reju, who inspite of his assurance had failed to hold the public hearing with the Expert Committee on the ill effects of the UPCL power plant, prior to Oct 17.

Agitators, inspite of repeated requests, were not allowed to meet the DC.

As the Deputy Commissioner refused to turn up to the dharna site agitators got irked and resorted to half nude protest by taking out their shirts. As the agitators announced even to strip their pants, police following the instructions from the DC invited the agitators to his chamber.

Inside the chamber Vijay Kumar Hegde took the DC to task for not holding the public hearing with the expert committee. He said that people in the region had been suffering from skin diseases, cattle have been suffered, and well water had been polluted all due to the environment pollution by the UPCL power plant. ``Inspite of this you have been a mute spectator and you are unfit to be the DC'', he said.

DC in his reply said that he had been he was keen to hold the public hearing, but as two new members of the expert committee were yet to be appraised of the older committee reports, by providing them zerox copies, the meeting got delayed. He assured to hold the meeting within two weeks.

Agitators demanded the DC to keep the UPCL unit – 1 shut till the expert committee holds public hearing submits its report.

Activist Vidya Dinakar demanded the Deputy Commissioner to make the UPCL pay for its violation causing environment pollution, under the Polluter Pays principle.