Daijiworld News Network - Udupi (GA)
Pics - RK Durga Digitals

Udupi, Jan 8: Persons supporting and opposing setting up of Nagarjuna thermal plant at Nandikur here were involved in stone pelting at each other at the construction site at Kemundelu nere Padubidri here on Sunday January 7.  The situation is tight in the area as tension continues to prevail.

The incident took place when a few persons opposing Nagarjuna alleged that the company was cutting trees and encroaching private property despite orders from deputy commissioner and forest department.  They went to the site to enquire about the same.  This led to verbal clash between Nagarjuna employees and the locals.

Later a group supporting Nagarjuna said to have snatched the camera of a photojournalist who had gone to the site for reporting.  A complaint has been filed in the Padubidri police station in this regard.

The problems started on Sunday morning when a news that the employees of Nagarjuna were felling a tree in a private property belonging to one Lakshmi spread in the area.  Some locals led by Nandikur Janajagruti Samiti presdient Lakshman Shetty went to the place and asked the employees to stop the work which was going on with the help of a JCB machine.  But the employees did not stop their work. This in turn led for verbal clash between both the groups and soon they were seen pelting stones at each other.

Now though the situation is under control, tension still pervades the area.  Both the camps are busy hurling accusations at each other.  But the construction work undertaken by the company is going on simultaneously with prohibitory orders and adequate security.