Move to evict Dharam Singh Colony slum dwellers: Ramdas stages protest

Mysuru: Accusing the Karnataka Slum Clearance Board (KSCB) of making attempts to evict slum dwellers in Dharam Singh Colony, former Minister and BJP leader S.A. Ramdas staged a demonstration at the spot this morning against the KSCB’s move. Ramdas, who arrived at the spot along with his followers after coming to know that KSCB personnel had visited the spot earlier this morning to ask the dwellers to vacate, said that there were 38 families living at the site and it was the responsibility of MCC and other authorities concerned to construct individual houses to these families under the Central Government’s RAY scheme (Rajiv Awas Yojana). But the KSCB authorities, after adding 17 more families to the original list of 38 families, were now planning to construct G + 3 houses to these families rather than individual ones as per the original plan, he claimed and alleged that a mafia was behind the KSCB’s move. Ramdas further alleged that the KSCB had failed to provide detailed and full list of RAY scheme beneficiaries, even though he had filed an application under RTI Act, seeking the same. He also said that a memorandum will be submitted in this regard to the Deputy Commissioner tomorrow. The Vidyaranyapuram Police who arrived at the spot, persuaded Ramdas to withdraw the stir. Corporators B.V.Manjunath and Jagadish, leaders Vadivelu, Santhosh, Hemanth and others took part in the protest.