Internal rift surfaces as Sagar villagers gear up for nuclear plant stir

Shivamogga: Internal differences have surfaced in the villagers' campaign against the proposed nuclear power plant at Besur village in Sagar taluk Monday, with several members insisting that environmentalist Ananth Hegde Ashisara be kept out of the agitation.Residents said they were alarmed by Ashisara's recent appeal to forest minister Eshwar Khandre to return Karnataka Power Corporation lands to forest department — a move they fear could eventually displace them.Despite the friction, villagers are gearing up to launch a protest against the proposed project at Besur, located in the Sharavathi backwaters. As reports of official correspondence regarding the nuclear power plant spread, local communities mobilised under the leadership of veteran farmer leader TN Srinivas.Srinivas chaired a preliminary protest meeting at the Kolur gram panchayat hall on Monday afternoon. Participants, including committee president Besur Ashok and vice-president Haranabailu Manjappa, termed the proposed project "destructive" and resolved to launch a movement to protect the ecology and livelihoods of the backwater region.Seeking to allay concerns, Shivamogga MP BY Raghavendra cited a clarification by the DC that the district administration has said the site is not suitable for a nuclear power plant. Sagar MLA Gopal Krishna Belur told reporters that he has sought details about the project from the district administration.