Residents object to dog shelter in Karnataka village

Udupi: Residents of Uppoor, Havanje and Aroor protested outside the Udupi DC's office Friday against the proposed dog shelter in Uppoor.They said the Udupi City Municipal Council (CMC) selected 9.9 acres of govt land for the shelter mandated by a Supreme Court order without consulting them. They also flagged health and social concerns.
Residents said the site was close to residential areas and better suited for other developmental projects. They demanded an alternative location.Social activist Sathish Poojary Keelinje told protesters that Uppoor had nearly 25 acres of govt land, and that residents had earlier been promised a university there. He said officials decided on the shelter without involving locals.Fr Lawrence D'Souza urged the CMC to pick land away from human habitation and bring development projects to Uppoor.Aroor gram panchayat former president Rajiv Kulal said the nearby lake made the area suitable for tourism development.