Mysuru:  The villagers of Hinkal staged a protest and stopped traffic for about 15 minutes at the Hinkal Ring Road Junction demanding handing over the land near the centuries-old Kalyani (water pond) to them, here this morning.

Later, Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA)  Chairman D. Dhruvakumar assured the villagers that a decision would be taken at its meeting on Mar.13 following which  the villagers withdrew the protest.

The protest was jointly organised by Hinkal’s Sri Nanneshwara Temple Development Committee, Zilla Panchayat  and Taluk Panchayat members, Auto Drivers Association, Lorry Owners Association and a few other organisations. The protest began around 10.30 am when nearly 300 people blocked the traffic at the Hinkal Ring Road junction. Later, the traffic was cleared by the police.

Meanwhile, MUDA Chairman D. Dhruvakumar, Commissioner T.S. Kantharaj and other officials reached the spot and moved towards the Kalyani (water pond) where the meeting was held.

The villagers alleged that despite their best efforts to save the pond and the land around near the temple, MUDA was ignoring them and allowing the two private institutions to go ahead with the construction.

Background

The historical Nanneshwara Temple of the village originally had an area of 42 acres, out of which only about 3 acres is now remaining with the temple. The MUDA after acquiring a portion of this land, sanctioned it to an educational institution. The land sanctioned by MUDA included centuries old Kalyani measuring 100ft x 100ft.

The Kalyani had shrunk to a large extent as time went by, with mud and shrubs covering more than half of the pond, posing a threat to the very existence of the Kalyani. The villagers drew the attention of the people representatives about the status of the pond. But the people’s representatives, including the MLA, MP and other local leaders, did not pay much attention to saving the Kalyani then.

The Yuva Brigade, along with Hinkal villagers, taking keen interest in saving the pond, visited almost every household in the village seeking co-operation.

Hinkal village head Papanna led the protest in which Advocate and GP Member M.U. Subbaiah, former ZP Member Nalini Urs, leaders Basavegowda, Hinkal Uday, Karnataka Dalit Vedike’s Naganahalli Revanna and others took part.