Udupi: Severe inconvenience were caused to people of over 300 villages around Padur from Majoor GP in view of construction activities of the I phase of Petroleum Reserve development projects, due to which a public demonstration was held at Padur.

Speaking at the Protest Rally TP member Arun Shetty stated that ongoing works posed problems to local people on the main stretch connecting Padur School and Shanthigudde area, in view of constant landmine blasts causing noise pollution, cracks on house, lorries driven recklessly when children go to Schools and so on. Herur UBMC School had 80 children, besides Anganawadi Schools, it was pointed out. Parents were afraid to let children go on the roads when trucks roar on the main road carrying heavy loads, Shalin Kunder (head mistress) said. Road workers use local house facilities like wells and toilets, without thanks. A demand was made for alternate routes to carry loads.

The Union govt, is spending Rs. 2400 crores to construct 3 rocky reservoirs to hold oil for 21 days at a time. Such reservoirs are built near Mangalore, Padur and Vishakhapatnam (E. Andhra).

The workers here are expected to be over by 2013 only. Kaup MLA Lalaji Mendon said that the oil reserve project comes under the Union Petroleum Ministry and “we could not stop the project”.

The site Manger, however, assured that adjacent roads will be built to reduce the problems of the public in a short time. The labourers will not trouble the local people, he assured the protestors. All details about the project workers would be submitted to the Shirva Police station, he assured.