KOPPAL
Environmental activists in Koppal have formally appealed to Sri Gavisiddheshwara Swamiji of the Gavi Matha to lead an ongoing public movement against the proposed Baldota steel plant.
Speaking at a press conference at the Patrika Bhavan, Dr. Basavaraj Kalasa, convener of the Raichur District AIIMS Agitation Committee, urged the respected spiritual leader to guide the agitation. He asked the seer to demand that state and central governments immediately revoke all permissions granted to the 54,000 crore rupee industrial project. Citing the successful Kappatagudda environmental campaign led by the Tontadarya Matha seer in neighboring Gadag district, Dr. Kalasa stated that strong spiritual leadership is crucial to protect the region’s public health and natural heritage.
Protesters warned that the massive manufacturing facility poses serious environmental hazards to thousands of residents across Koppal city and surrounding villages. They highlighted risks of severe air, soil, and water pollution, noting that industrial waste threatens to contaminate the vital Tungabhadra reservoir, escalating public health risks for future generations.
The agitation committee strongly condemned recent police actions against peaceful protesters who have been demonstrating for over a year, while criticizing the district administration’s indifferent attitude toward public grievances. Reaffirming their full support, committee leaders called upon local citizens to join the movement in large numbers to safeguard community well-being.
Prominent local campaigners, including Allamaprabhu Bettadoor, M.R. Bheri, Vinay Kumar Chitragar, and Srinivas Joshi, also attended the press conference to extend their unified support to the public cause.
