Protest in Kumta on October 5 over construction of Bye-pass on NH 66

Kumta 2 October 2018: (Bhatkallys News Bureau) The Bye-pass opposition committee formed to oppose the bye-pass construction on Kumta NH 66 will organise a protest rally in town on October 5, Friday in a bid to show their dissent over the construction of bye-pass. In a press conference organised in a private hotel, the committee cleared its stand on the issue and said "The construction of bye-pass will lead to several poor people ending up as homeless, the whole scenario is taking place only in the interest of a few powerful people, who are suppressing the interest of poor people of the region who will lose their homes and properties amidst the construction of bye-pass". "These powerful people are using politicians as tools to safeguard their interests, poor people of the town have already lost enough of the properties to Konkan railways, and this will only worsen their case of livelihood" RG Naik, the president of committee added. "The whole issue revolves around covering only 12% of land for widening the existing highway, as 88% of the land for it is already available, for covering 12% you don't need to change your plan and construct a bye-pass, what is happening behind the scenes is, they are saving buildings and properties of richer people which is due to be lost during Highway widening" committee member Ganesh Bhat said. The committee cited the impact bye-pass will have on the development of the town and requested people to join the protest in numbers and make their stand clear to the government and authorities in the interest of poor people and development of the town. (Bhatkallys News Bureau/ Special correspondent/ Ismail Zaorez)