A.K.SUBBAIAH’S MEET THWARTED;

The effort to hold an interaction meet to discuss Barapole hydel project by Mr.A.K.Subbaiah, former MLC was thwarted by protestors today amidst shouting of slogans.

Tension mounted at Planters Club premises as the Taluk Raitha Sangha under the leadership of former MLC Mr.A.K.Subbaiah organized an interaction meet much against the wish of the localites. The leaders of Cauvery Sene led by Mr.Ravi Chengappa, Barapole Virodhi Samithi president Mr.Sadhu Poonacha and others alleged that the organizers of the interaction have received favours from the Hydel project contractors Atria company and did not allow meeting to take off. Incidentally representatives of the company were also present in the meeting premises with projectors to brief the audience about the hydel project.

The protestors condemned the contractors, Subbaiah and one Nanda Subbaiah and said that they are involved in anti people action . Hundreds of acres of land will submerge and people would go homeless if the project comes up, they alleged.

Later in a press conference Atria company officials assured that they wish not to take up the project if people does not need it. Mr.A.K.Subbaiah condemned the attitude of the protestors.

NAXALITE ACTIVITY TO BE CHECKED;

The intelligence wings of state and center are tapping doors to unveil suspicious activities that could be linked to Naxalites in the district.

The intelligence departments are geared to action after the cabinet discussed possible presence of Naxalites in Kodagu.

The eyes are on one Mr.Nirvanappa who was sympathizing Naxalites way back in 2000-1 and entered police book. Though he claims he is not active in it, the department is scanning his attachment to the Red Flag Communist party along with his 30-40 supporters.

The department is also working on an Andhra based person pouring money on buying properties in Kodagu . They are tracing his antecedents.

Meanwhile, a retired SP Mr.Appaiah who had served as DySP at Koppa in Chikmagalore during 2002- 3 has held police department responsible for the growth of Naxalites in the state. He told this correspondent that he had filed a detailed report to the department on the activities of Naxalites taking birth in the regions of Kudremukh. Instead of taking action against the Naxalites, the deprtment officials called him mad and transferred him to Udupi to the coastal guard wing, he alleged. He also said that a DFO Mr.Murthy, who had supported his report, was also transferred.

According to him the planters who have encroached forest lands, the so called think tanks, politicians and some of the forest officials were feeding four wings of Naxalites at Chikmagalur area during 2002. However the state is now paying a hefty price due to the negligence of few police officials, he said.

LEAD BANK SUBMITTS 546 CRORE CREDIT PLAN;

The lead bank yesterday submitted a credit plan of rupees 546.75 crore for the year 2005 – 06.

The Lead Bank manager Mr.Abhinandan stated in his speech yesterday that the report was prepared after consulting all the 126 Banks in the district. The loan amount is 26% more than last year he said.

He disclosed that the agriculture sector will get the lion share of rupees 387.07 crores.

The CEO Mr.Sundar Naik addressed the meeting and said that programmes to assist Stree Shakthi and other wings of women should be formed to encourage their activities.

The chief general manager of the Lead Bank from Hassan, Mr.Muralidhar Kamath, NABARD manager Mr.Kulkarni and others were present.