MANGALORE: The residents of the Abbakka Nagar layout promoted by Mangalore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) have expressed their dismay over handing over a part of the land meant for public amenities to a petroleum company.

According to the president of the Abbakka Nagar Housing Colony Resident's Association Sadashiva Puranik, here today, the MUDA had promised to keep a portion of the northern side of the plot reserved for group housing and a commercial building to meet the daily necessities of the residents. Last month MUDA sold the land to Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) without even intimating the residents. The IOC plans to put a petrol pump there, Mr. Puranik said.

The residents have already lodged a protest against the petrol pump in a residential area but the response from the MUDA was not forthcoming. The residents have also complained to the Deputy Commissioner, Commissioner of MUDA and Department of Explosives. Mr. Puranik said MUDA should have sought no objection from the residents of the layout. He said the MUDA had also misled the Deputy Commissioner by not showing site sketch of the petrol pump in the documents presented to the Deputy Commissioner while applying for no-objection certificate. The proposed site also encroaches a portion of the Kulur Ferry Road that was yet another problem the residents point out. The Fire department stipulates that the plot should have been permanently kept vacant.

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