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dam-l Deccan Herald: Protest over Bedthi project in Karnataka. (fwd)
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From cwaterp@del3.vsnl.net.in Fri May 14 21:37:29 1999
X-UIDL: 2e03e47bdbe99fc0ea0f27f487fac34e
Message-ID: <373CD154.70B0A306@del3.vsnl.net.in>
Date: Sat, 15 May 1999 07:13:49 +0530
From: Himanshu Thakkar <cwaterp@del3.vsnl.net.in>
Reply-To: cwaterp@del3.vsnl.net.in
Organization: Centre For Water Policy
Subject: Deccan Herald: Protest over Bedthi project in Karnataka.
DECCAN HERALD [Image] Thursday, May 13, 1999
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Protest over Bedti power project
KARWAR (UK dist), May 12 (DHNS)
After facing protest from the people of Uttara Kannada against the
Seabird
Naval project, now the State government is facing protest against the
Bedti
power project.
The people living in the area of Ramanaguli, where the Bedti- Gangavali
project is to come up, reportedly threw stones on contractors, who are
entrusted with the primary construction work, here on Tuesday expressing
their protest against the project.
Deputy Commissioner Atul Kumar Tiwari had convened a special meeting of
the
contractors and district officials for talks regarding survey of the
project area, and to collect opinions of the localites, at the
Ramanaguli
inspection bungalow on Tuesday.
Later, they and local legislator Vishweshwara Hegde Kageri visited the
villages of Hosakambi and Bairalakoppa, which will be affected by the
project.
Meanwhile, environmentalists and the people who would be affected by the
project reportedly held another meeting. Lok Shakti leader Pramod Hegde
reportedly said that the project would have negative implications on the
localites and therefore the survey of the area should not be carried
out.
He reportedly said that the displaced people would face rehabilitation
problems.
Mr Vishweshwara Hegde Kageri, who joined them, reportedly endorsed Mr
Pramod Hegde`s views.
Member of Parliament, Mr Ananth Kumar Hegde, who intervened, allegedly
asked the localites to ''drive away`` the contractors to prevent them
from
carrying out the survery.
The protestors, who by then were raising slogans against the deputy
commissioner, reportedly pulled the contractors out of the meeting hall.
They then threw stones on the vehicle which the contractors tried to
board.
The vehicle was damaged in the incident. The contractors escaped from
the
protestors in another vehicle.
Lok Shakti leaders R S Naika, Ramanand Naika, Congress leader Umesh
Bhat,
all demanded that the government should not continue with its project.
Later, the deputy commissioner urged the protestors to co-operate with
the
government in completing the project. It may be noted that the State
government has sanctioned the Bedti Hydel project, which consists of six
units to be built at an estimated cost of Rs.75 crore. He said that
necessary changes could be effected in the project once the survey is
completed. ''The government has concern for the people and the project
will
not affect the people.