Udupi: More than 3000 villagers from Paadur, Kalathur, and Kuthyar took out a protest demonstration on Monday on Udupi streets, asking their MP and CM (DVS Gowda) to help drop the proposal to acquire 700 acres of agricultural land on West coast, for the benefit of Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves Ltd., in a plan to have underground oil reserves.

The Kalathur Jana Jagrathi Samithi organised the rally. Gurme Suresh Shetty and local leaders were in the forefront of this people’s struggle.

MLA K. Raghupathi Bhat, MLA Lalaji Mendon, BJP district chief Uday K. Shetty, JD-S leader Deviprasad Shetty, former minister Vasant Salian and some others participated. A memorandum was dispatched to the Government about a survey done in 700 acres to displace local people in Kalahur. Already 200 acres in Paadur were taken over by KIADB, in the interest of the nation. Over 200 families could lose their moorings if the demand for land is enlarged, the memo said.

It urged dropping the acquisition process for storing crude oil.