NOVEL PROTEST: Residents staging a `rasta sabha' at Tipu Sultan Chowk in Gulbarga on Wednesday

GULBARGA: The Hyderabad-Karnataka Janapara Sangharsha Samiti, which spearheads the "rasta sabha" agitation demanding adequate supply of drinking water and basic amenities in the city, resumed its agitation on Wednesday after a gap of five days.

This follows the corporation's "failure" to keep its promises including that on improving drinking water supply to the city.

The samiti members squatted on the road braving the high mercury level of more than 41 degrees Celsius. The "rasta sabha" was held at Tipu Sultan Chowk on Gulbarga Ring Road for more than three hours in the afternoon. The samiti had suspended its agitation on April 19 after the corporation gave in writing that drinking water will be supplied on alternate days from April 21 or 22, and that other demands like improving underground drainage system, taking up repair of internal roads and providing streetlights would be looked into. For people of the city, the agitation by the samiti seems to have come as a big relief. Many have joined the protests when political parties, including the Opposition, have turned a blind eye to civic problems.

Addressing the gathering at the chowk, Samiti president Laxman Dasti reiterated his allegation against Agricultural Marketing Minister and district in-charge Sharanabasappa Darshanapur, and BJP MLA Chandrasekhar Patil Revoor who represents Gulbarga City of not coming to the rescue of people who were facing the worst-ever drinking water crisis.

They had failed to take action against erring officials, he said.

There was no shortage of water in the sources of the Bhima and ther Bennethora. They had water that could last for several months.

Bickering between the Karnataka Urban Water Supply and Drainage Board that supplies water in bulk from the two sources and the corporation has led to the present crisis, he said.

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