ARUN MACHAIAH TO JOIN JDS

Arun Machaiah, the Kodagu M.L.C will join JDS on the 13th at the JDS conference to be held at Palace grounds Bangalore. Arun Machiah had been elected as a rebel congress candidate through the local bodies to the legislative council after defeating the ex. Minister T.John

After he won he tried to join the congress which was defied by some of the district congress leaders. Ultimately Arun Machiah have decided to join JDS in the presence of H.D.Devegowda. On the same day senior state political Rajashekhar Murthy is also joining the JDS. The ex. Virajpet Thaluk Panchayath member V.A.venkatesh and more than 200 followers of Arun Machaiah are also joining the party on the Same day.

When Contacted Arun clarified his stand. As the local congress leaders oppose his joining of congress he ultimately decided to join JDS. In the coming Z.P. and T.P elections he will work for success of the JDS candidates- he confirmed. With the “Times”

Arun Machaiah

ABBIFALLS HYDEL PROJECT STARTED

Irrespective of protests by a section of the villagers and agitation by some service organisations, the Abbi falls hydro electricity project near Madikeri has been officially started today. Many organisations have alleged that the lands will be submerged if the project is implemented. The Kodagu Deputy Commissioner had sent a report to the Govt. The state cabinet sub committee after a detail discussion agreed to give the license to the Refidi M. Power Supplies institution which had taken the project contract. The JCB work commenced to level the land in the area. The project consists of construction of dam nearby the falls and supply of water through pipelines in underground sappy system. The water will reach the filter unit and then move towards turbine through pipe connections- the organizers explain.The producers say, the electricity produced will benefit he area with he uninterrupted power supply.

A section of the villagers and the local B.J.P leaders including the M.L.A have supported the commencement of the project which will benefit the community. However the local M.L.C Arun Machiah has opposed this. He told that in the state level there is excess of electricity production even affecting in the wastage of it.The Govt. has cleared 16 Hydel projects in Kodagu. Ultimately, the entire environment in these areas will be affected and disturbed. Many people will loose their lands.. The animal population will be disturbed in the nearby forest areas. The project benefits only the licensee companies. They earn crores of Rupees using the perennial and d flowing water. Even, in some places the nearby temples will be disturbed and the piligrimage calmness will be obstructed due to commercialization of the hydel project-analyses Arun Machaiah

Abbifallas project

VILLAGERS OPPOSE MINING NEAR GAMES SANCTUARY

Madikeri Nov. 10 Government in the high level takes decision just to please the wealthy and influential class in the society. The higher officers sitting in their AC cabins clear the license files and continues the negligence attitude towards the public opinion. Such incidents are often experienced in Kodagu. The senior officers at Bangalore clear the mining permissions without visiting the spots or without collecting the detail information. In one of such incidents at Somwarpet thaluk the people protested and a mining contract was suspended. Another development could be seen at Virajpet thaluk at present. An influential and wealthy person from Kerala had purchased some private land AT Bittangala village, a border area. The mining department had sanctioned permission.

The present situation during the implementation and carrying of the work has become worst. The whole operation is disturbing and destroying the environmental balance. Nearby, Nagarhole Games sanctuary, Brahmagiri reserve forest, and western ghat forest areas are being polluted. The wild animals are seriously disturbed due the continue dynamite blasts with heavy sound and dust pollution. The people residing underneath fear the collapse of their houses with regular shaking of earth with the blasts. The contractors are cracking the boulders and heavy rocks in the hills. They want money out of it. Govt. is least bothered about the bad affects. Now, the villagers have decided to seriously protest against if further work is not stopped immediately. The village leaders warned agitation in front of Deputy Commissioner’s office and also through obstructing the traffics system in the area.

Mines work going in Bittangala village