BANGALORE: With prohibitory orders to be extended to facilitate movement of garbage trucks to Mandur landfill, defiant villagers are considering legal recourse.
Prohibitory orders under section 144 of IPC was imposed for four days from June 3 after locals staged protests. With no means to pacify villagers, KR Puram tahsildhar has ordered extending prohibitory orders by two-three days based on a police report, said B Ramesh, Bangalore Rural Superintendent of Police. As per the law, not more than four people can assemble at public places.
Gopal Rao, a villager, said the monsoon is round the corner but prohibitory orders prevent villagers from working in their fields. “We are planning to sort out the issue legally. For how many days can they impose prohibitory orders”, he asked.
Not to Be Outdone
The villagers are now devising alternate ways to fight the BBMP and the government.
“Some of our villagers are suggesting to stop trucks much before Mandur. Prohibitory orders are imposed in a two-kilometre radius, we shall stop trucks before this,” Rao said. Another resident, Sridhar, said they are also planning to stage a dharna in front of the BBMP office or Vidhana Soudha.
Meanwhile, villagers staged a protest against Chief Secretary Kaushik Mukherjee at K R Puram on Friday morning. He had said that real estate mafia in Mandur was pitting the villagers against the government. “We are the ones deprived of good water and air and are suffering from ailments. We are just demanding the government to allow us to live a decent life”, said Shashidhar, a villager.
Govt Still on Co-operation Mode
BBMP Commissioner M Lakshminarayana said he will request villagers to co-operate with them for the next six to eight months. “Villagers have been accommodating all these years. I shall talk to them and freedom fighter H S Doreswamy. We want to sort it out peacefully”, he insisted. On his part, District Minister R Ramalinga Reddy was firm that waste had to go to the landfill.
Meanwhile, heaps of uncleared garbage was seen on 8th Main Road in Jeevan Bima Nagar, Nanjappa layout in Audugodi, Adithya Green Apartment road near Amruthahalli, Majestic, SJP Road near Town Hall, Vijayanagar, Jayanagar III Block, Gandhi Bazaar and Avenue Road among other spots. However, officials maintained that it would be cleared in a day or two.