Protest in Shivamogga over delay in allotting houses under Ashraya Scheme

K.S. Eshwarappa

Members of the Rashtrabhaktara Balaga, led by former Minister K.S. Eshwarappa, staged a protest in Shivamogga on Tuesday against the delay in allotting houses under the Ashraya Scheme at Govindapura and Gopishetty Koppa in the city.

The protesters marched from Ramanna Shetty Park and attempted to picket the office of the Shivamogga City Corporation. The police intervened and detained the leaders of the forum.

Addressing the protesters, Mr. Eshwarappa said poor beneficiaries had paid their share of the cost years ago and that the Union government had released its share. However, he alleged that the State government had delayed completing the work and allotting the houses. Of the 6,000 houses planned, only 450 had been completed, he said.

“The contractor has left the site as he has not been paid. Had the government cleared his dues, he would have completed the work and the houses would have been allotted to the beneficiaries. The forum will continue its protests until the beneficiaries get justice,” he said.

Corporation Commissioner Mayanna Gowda, who spoke to the protesters, said the work had been delayed because some beneficiaries had not paid their contribution on time and payments to contractors were pending. He said the corporation would ensure that the work progressed and the houses were allotted to the beneficiaries.

Dissatisfied with the Commissioner’s response, the protesters tried to enter the corporation premises, prompting the police to intervene. The police detained Mr. Eshwarappa, his son and former Zilla Panchayat member K.E. Kantesh, along with others.