Following protests by residents of Kana and Democratic Youth Federation of India activists, the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) commenced repair works on the bumpy Surathkal–Kana Road on Wednesday.
They staged the protest in front of the gate of BASF industry where the road is in a bad shape.
Saplings planted
The protestors planted saplings in the potholes filled with water. They blocked the movement of traffic for nearly two hours.
Speaking on the occasion, DYFI city unit president B.K. Imtiyaz said the road, which had been re-laid in 2012 by the MCC using funds provided by Mangalore Chemicals and Fertilisers (MCF), has worn out drastically causing problems to motorists and pedestrians.
Mr. Imtiyaz said the MCC filled up potholes last year. But they have opened up and a few more potholes have come up.
Rain water
Potholes have been filled up without making proper arrangements to drain out rain water. “The money spent on the repair of the road has gone down the drain,” he said. DYFI State president Muneer Katipalla regretted the lack of concern of authorities to the plight of people who have given their lands for setting up industries, namely MRPL and BASF.
‘No facility’
The people are not being provided with a proper road facility, he said.
Earlier in the day, Mangaluru City Corporation Commissioner Hephsiba Rani Korlapati visited the area along with officials from the engineering section.
It was around noon that work of repairing the road started.
“It was only after they started the work that we withdrew out demonstration,” Mr. Imtiyaz said.
