SOMWARPET BANDH ON MAY 13;

Madikeri April 27, 2006

Somwarpet Taluk that would be dissolved with other two Talukas of Kodagu after the de limitation recommendation is implemented, is all set to hold a bandh in protest.

The decision to hold bandh in protest was taken in an all-party meeting held at Somwarpet Mahila Samaj building. Leaders of many organizations and political parties took strong objection against the de limitation decision and said that a delegation will meet the Chief Minister of Karnataka and the de limitation committee led by Kuldeep Singh in New Delhi before the government considers the recommendation.

PROTEST BEFORE TOWN PANCHAYATH;

Opposition members of the Somwarpet Town panchayath yesterday held a lightening protest against the chief officer and rained allegations.

Members led by vice president Vijayalakshmi, congress members Adam and others alleged that the Chief Officer Sudakar Bhat is not implementing any schemes approved by the meeting and several dereliction of duty incidents are also found.

Pandemonium broke as thre Chief Officer, who was taken by surprise by the protestors at one stage warned them and said “ I will teach you a lesson”. Hartal cooled down only after he apologized.

MLA B.A.Jeevijaya, who arrived on the spot also took the officer into task and accused that the schemes to be undertaken by utilizing his fund were all neglected. He advised the officer not to play politics. The officer agreed to look into the demands.

JUNGLE LODGES TO ATTRACT TOURISTS

Kodagu, which is picking up as a tourists destination has one more attraction with Jungle lodges and resorts board coming up with lodges at Dubare forests near Kushalnagar.

The resident manager Yuvaraj told this correspondent that ten cottages using wood and Mangalore bricks are built in the first phase and tents will also come up to accommodate more tourists. The cottages were to be inaugurated by the Chief Minister Kumar Swamy tomorrow. CM was supposed to inaugurate the silver jubilee function of the journalists association at Madikeri tomorrow and his programme is yet to be confired. In any case the cottages will be thrown open for use by the end of this month.

A view of the jungle lodge