Protests Against Environment Pollution - Violence Erupts in Udyavar

News Courtesy: The Hindu

21 Feb 2010, Udupi: The laying of pipelines from some fishmeal companies to the Arabian Sea led to violence at Udyavar village near Udupi on Saturday. Prohibitory orders under Section 144 have been clamped in the village till 6 a.m. on Monday.

Udupi Tahsildar V. Prasanna told The Hindu that rivalry between two groups on laying the pipelines to the sea from three fishmeal companies led to the violence. The district administration had given permission to lay the pipeline to the sea and, accordingly, work started around 10.30 a.m. on Saturday. The situation became tense around 3.30 p.m. and work was stopped.

The administration decided to pursue the issue on Monday.

Mr. Prasanna said that a group of people from Padukere and Udyavar were opposed to these fishmeal companies. Their demands were that the wastewater from trucks carrying the fish should be stopped and the effluents should be treated before they were discharged into the sea.

He said some people assaulted Mohan Salian in the afternoon as he was opposing the fishmeal companies. This infuriated the people, who began burning tyres and throwing stones at buildings in protest. Hence Section 144 was imposed on the village from 5 p.m. on Saturday, Mr. Prasanna said.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Jayant Shetty said that a police jeep and a car were damaged in stone throwing. The police had to resort to a mild lathi-charge to disperse the crowd. Shops downed shutters in the village, he said.

He said that the police arrested four persons. A platoon of the KSRP and two of District Armed Reserve had been pressed into service. “The situation is under control,” he said.

Note: The decade old agitations have finally picked up momentum.  Please CLICK HERE for Daijiworld coverage on the latest.