The Hindu 16.09.2009

Tension as municipal officials, staff clash with vedike activists in Shimoga city

Special Correspondent

SHIMOGA: There was tension in Park Extension area here on Tuesday following the alleged dumping of solid waste in front of a private hospital.

According to sources, activists of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (Praveen Shetty faction) reportedly misbehaved with Commissioner of City Municipal Council P. Jayanna, environment engineer Manu Kumar and other staff of the municipality. The officials too retaliated against the vedike activists resulting in heated arguments between the two groups.

Cases have been registered at the Jayanagar Police Station against 10 vedike activists for trying to assault the municipal officials and staff and abusing them.

The new Vaatsalya Hospital in the area is said to have drawn two water supply pipelines without the permission of the local authorities.

Also, the hospital had not taken permission to dig up the road to install power cables.

When the CMC officials questioned the hospital management, the latter replied that it was the duty of the contractors to take permission from the authorities concerned.

Later, the CMC staff reportedly dumped solid waste in front of the hospital causing foul smell.

When asked, the CMC staff replied that the tipper carrying the waste had a flat tyre and the waste had been dumped in front of the hospital temporarily.

On hearing the news, CMC Commissioner Jayanna rushed to the spot and made arrangements to clear the waste from there.

Then suddenly, the vedike activists bounced upon the CMC Commissioner and the environment engineer and took the two to task.

When the news of the vedike activists attacking the CMC Commissioner and the engineer spread, CMC workers arrived at the spot and started raising slogans against the vedike.

The vedike activists gheraoed Mr. Jayanna, Mr. Manu Kumar and municipal president N.J. Rajashekhar. When tempers rose, the police intervened and brought it under control.

Councillor S.K. Mariyappa arrived at the spot and pacified the vedike activists and municipal workers.