H.R. Gaviyappa, a likely candidate of BJP from Vijayanagar Assembly constituency, began his padayatra from Bukkasagar village on Monday.
Mr. Gaviyappa, who represented the constituency for a term between 2004-08 and unsuccessfully contested in the subsequent election as a Congress candidate, recently joined the BJP when Congress inducted B.S. Anand Singh, who has been accused of indulging in illegal mining, after he resigned as BJP MLA from the constituency, and was likely to be its nominee in the ensuing elections.
It may be mentioned here that Mr. Singh has completed one round of visiting villages and ‘gram vastavya’ (stay in the village) a few months before he joined the Congress. Accompanied by village elders, elected representatives and supporters of the party, he also undertook a door-to-door campaign, and interacted with the people.
A common problem faced by the ‘Vadda’ community, was about restrictions on manual quarrying in the area imposed by the Hampi World Heritage Area Management Authority. “Around 400 families are engaged in the tradition of quarrying. With the impositions we are unable to get two square meals. We request you to take it up with the government and get the area with granite boulders denotified,” was their opinion.
Women sought houses for their families. Some farmers, who get irrigation cover from the ancient Vijayanagar channels, complained that though water was to flow perennially (for about eleven months) now it had been limited to around seven to eight months. They sought alternative arrangements to supplement water to their fields.
“The purpose of the padayatra was to ascertain the problems faced by the people and initiate steps to resolve them. With regard to supplementing water for irrigation, I am contemplating lifting water from ancient anicuts (barrages). Getting quarrying areas denotified will also be done. All this is possible only when you elect me,” he said.
He organised rangoli and mehendi competitions. Winners were awarded pressure cookers and mixer & grinders. Saris were also distributed to all participants.
