RASTA ROKHO RATTLES TRAFFIC

Madikeri January 6, 2010

Hindu organizations today held Rasta Rokho in many parts of the district and stranded traffic for an hour. Rasta rokho was called to urge the district administration to arrest those who had supported international terrorist, commander of south India wing of Lashkar E Toiba, Nazir.

A separate wing to of Hindu organizations under the title “Save Kodagu Andolana Samity” was formed after Nazir’s identity was established. The committee had been urging police to arrest all those who had link with him in Kodagu including at Hosatota where he took agriculture land on lease and carried out his anti India activities.

Rasta Rokho was held at General Thimmaiah circle at Madikeri for an hour and traffic was stalled on all sides of main road. Slogans were shouted against anti social elements and terrorism. Protestors demanded arrest of those who had contact with Nazir while in Kodagu.

The entrance of Kodagu Mysore border at Kushalnagar, Kodagu Kerala border at Makutta - Virajpet, Kodagu Hassan border at Kodlipet was also blocked and hundreds of vehicles on the high way were stranded. Protestors did not allow vehicular movement inside the towns in many parts. Roads were blocked at Murnad, Shanivarsanthe, Somwarpet, Napoklu and many other places.

Superintendent of police, Manjunath Annigeri told this correspondent that the protest was peaceful and road blocks were held in around twenty places. He said that police protection was organized in every place, including at Hostota where Nazir had stayed.

PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM HELD UP IN KODAGU

Madikeri Jan. 7: Kodagu is already affected by untimely rain loosing paddy and coffee crops, the big size potholes on roads created worst traffic system in the district, the electricity failure has become routine way of life-meantime, the essential food commodities distributed through public distribution system (PDS)in the fair price shops has also been stopped since two months.

When “Times” contacted the Food department deputy director M. Basavaraju he accepted the truth and explained the problem faced by the department in getting the suitable contractor for transporting the commodities from Kushalnagar Food corporation of India (FCI) depot to other thaluk centres in the district. Previopuis contrtactor Devartaju was supplying the materials from kushlnagar godown to other thaluk godowns situated in Madikeri,Murnad, Virajpet and Shanivarasanthe. From these centers the thaluk transport contractors were shifting to fair price shops. Since two months the common people are suffering without the supply of PDS food commodities in kodagu.

The yearly transport contract was ended during last august. The department was giving 0.48 paise per quintal per K.M.But the contractor was hesitant to continue the contract as he was incurring a minimum of Rs. One lakh per month. This is because kodagu roads have ups and downs,curves and during recent year the worst conditions of the roads make it difficult to transport the items for the same rate fixed by the Govt. Two tenders are given by two contractors. One is quoting a minimum of 0.78 paise and another is quoting Rs. 1. But, the Commissioner of FCI, Bangalore has not accepted the tender as it crosses the normal rate fixed by the Govt in general to all the districts. But if the senior officials are rigid in the rate, common people in Kodagu have to suffer a lot. About 15,000 quintals of commodities have to be shifted every month. The godown in Kushalnagar could not accommodate to store the excess materials if they are not timely shifted to other places.

The Govt has to take a special decision to solve the grievous problem immediately.

PHOTO: NO STOCK:NO DEALINGS IN FAIR PRICE SHOP