The three-day day-and-night dharna to save Kappatagudda concluded on Wednesday evening following specific assurance from Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister H.K. Patil.
The Minister called Sri Siddhalinga Swami, who is spearheading the campaign, and assured him of taking up the matter in the State Wildlife Board meeting on February 20. Following the Minister's assurance, the protesters held a meeting and decided to conclude the dharna and wait till February 20 for the government to take decision.
More support
Earlier, the third day of the dharna under the Save Kappatagudda Campaign saw support pouring in from different quarters on Wednesday.
While advocates refrained from attending court proceedings to extend support to the cause, the seer of Kotumachagi village Sri Basavanand Swami reached the protest venue, Gandhi Circle, after undertaking a 22-km padayatra. While the advocates reached the protest venue on motorcycles, Sri Basavananda Swami had over 60 members accompanying him during his march
Members of the District Photographers Association took out a protest march to Gandhi Circle and hundreds of college students formed a human chain at Gandhi Circle to press for restoration of conservation reserve tag for Kappatagudda.
Autorickshaw drivers drove their vehicles to Gandhi Circle to express solidarity with Sri Siddhalinga Swami of Tontadarya Mutt and S.R. Hiremath of Samaj Parivartan Samudaya (SPS) and others leading the agitation. Holding a protest rally under the aegis of Jai Karnataka Sanghatane, they demanded immediate issue of fresh notification on Kappatagudda.
Herds of sheep were also driven to Gandhi Circle in an act of solidarity by the members of Halumata community. President of the Halumata Mahasabha Rudranna Gulaguli and others drove their sheep to the circle and spent the day at the protest venue.
Despite his fragile health, Sri Annadanishwara Swami of Mundargi also arrived at the protest venue to urge the State government to restore the conservation reserve status to Kappatagudda.
He said that it was essential to save Kappatagudda, a treasure trove of biodiversity and it should be preserved for posterity. Nearly 20 persons took part in a hunger strike and of them, two had to be shifted to hospital after they complained of uneasiness.
