Udupi: People of different villages staged protest in front of the DC office, Manipal on Monday October 6 to oppose the project of Kudremukh National Park being converted into a Tiger Reserve area,

Udupi district Malekudiya Sanga with Shree Isha Vittaldasa Swamiji of Kemaru Math organized the protest along with a few BJP leaders.

A rally was also organised from MIT Circle to DC office.

Addressing the protestors, Shree Isha Vittaladasa Swamiji said that both center and state government should stop confusing poor villagers. State government should finalise the issue and discard the project.

He added, “11 villages from Karkala, 10 villages in Belthangadi and three villages in Kundapur taluk are massively affected by the project. ‘Malekudiya’ are the preservers of the nature. The representatives like MPs and MLAs should raise their voices in the parliament and assembly to oppose the project”.

Sridhar Gowda, president of Udupi district Malekudiya community said that, people here have a deep bonding with the land and the nature. They have been staying there for generations.

He threatened, if the government fails to discard the project,  a protest will be held by blocking Agumbe highway.

The project should be executed only where there is no human habitat. The people in the area are totally against the project irrespective of the compensation package, he added.

Annappa Shetty, Kudlu said, “I own 3.5 acre lands in the area and shifting will not be possible as it will affect our livelihood.”

Sudara Gowda said that we are tired of fighting for our own land, leave us live in peace. We are scared of losing our land.

Giriyappa said that vote bank politics has destroyed the peace of the people in the area.   State government and center should be clear regarding their stance. The governments should declare the status of the project.