Mangaluru: The locals of Vittalbettu, an agrarian community, has decided to protest against the authorities of the Mangaluru International Airport after their properties were damaged in the May 29th floods.
According to the locals, excess rainwater from the airport flowed down into their residences and fields, leading to damage.
After airport authorities refused to compensate them for their losses after previously having assured that they would, members of the community decided to stage a protest to get justice.
The airport is located at a higher altitude compared to the residences and fields of the locals. The deluge – carrying a lot of silt – flowed down from the airport and damaged their fields, a motorable mud road, and their homes. The villagers even tried to divert the flow of the run off but it was too intense, making their efforts fruitless. The well on which the whole village is dependent, was also filled with silt.
On Tuesday, a meeting was convened at the Circuit House with the airport officials, the Vittalbettu residents, Mangaluru City North MLA Dr. Bharath Y Shetty and district MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, to discuss the issue.
The airport authorities reportedly agreed to compensate the villagers for their losses in the meeting and assured that they would repair the roads and desilt the well.
On Wednesday, however, the villagers alleged that the airport officials went back on their word by trying to shirk off their responsibilities by blaming the villagers for their own losses. Shivaram Kulal, a local farmer alleged that after the officials visited the village, the officials tried to transfer blame onto the villagers and hold them responsible for their own losses.
He said, “During the meeting, they admitted that the water from the airport flowed into the residences and agricultural land and now they say that we are lying.”
Meanwhile, MLA Dr. Shetty has assured that he would visit the site with MP Kateel and make sure that corrective measures are taken.
