Daijiworld Media network - Puttur (SP)

Puttur, Jan 21: Congress activists held a protest demonstration in front of the local assistant commissioner's office, to register their opposition at the lack of facilities in Nemmadi centre, collection of  heavy development fee, delay in the execution of Asian Development Bank (ADB) financed works etc., on Monday January 19.

The Nemmadi centre set up by the revenue department in the town suffers from lack of even basic amenities. The centre does not have space for the people to even stand properly. People are required to leave aside their daily work to wait at the centre for days together to get even small things done, the protestors said.

The road works being executed under the ADB scheme are being unduly delayed. Already grant of five crore rupees has been slashed from the total outlay. Many of the local roads including main roads leading to Darbe, Samethadka and Salmara are in a despicable condition and a few of them are not motorable. Several of the works that should have been completed by 2005 are yet to be finished, a memorandum addressed to the state chief minister said.

Both the Town Planning Authority and municipal council have been collecting huge amount as development fees while issuing licences for house and other building construction activities. This has created lot of problem for the common people. Although a promise was made in the council meeting to stop the collection of the fee with immediate effect, the collection continues to be made. The government has to bring ammendment to the law to enable withdrawal of the fee. The house tax which has been revised upwardly this year, should be reverted to old rates, the protestors demanded.

Youth Congress president Satish Naik, Sutrabettu Jagannath Rai, councillors Deeksha Pai, Seema Gangadhar etc., were present.