Protesters stop Asnotikar from inaugurating PHC

KARWAR: Members of Kaiga Evacuees Association (KEA) on Saturday prevented fisheries minister Anand Asnotikar and Nuclear Power Corporation (NPC) authorities from inaugurating a primary health centre (PHC) in Mallapur. The members of the association gheraoed the minister for more than an hour insisting that the PHC should not be opened.
When the minister arrived with senior NPC officials and the deputy commissioner, the group gheroed him.They demanded that those who lost land for the Kaiga project be employed at least at the lower level in the Kaiga project.
There were 40 vacant posts for drivers and firemen but all those who were selected, except one, were from Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, they claimed. The protesters also demanded that the PHC should be kept open for 24 hours instead of just three hours a day.
Deputy commissioner B N Krishnaiah and Asnotikar agreed to the demand and said that a committee with local GP members would be formed. But the protesters were in no mood to relent. Women protesters blocked his way.
Asnotikar and NPC officials left the venue in a huff much to the relief of the police as the situation was getting out of hand. The police heaved a sigh of relief after minister and NPC officials left the place. Security has been beefed up in Mallapur village.