District administration move maroons aged couple

Mangalore Today News Network

Ronald Anil Fernandes, Deccan Herald

Mangalore, June 21, 2012: A 75-year-old Louis D’Souza and his 66-year-old wife Irene D’Souza, residents of Melkoppal, on the banks of River Gurpur river in Kuloor have been forced to stay at home, thanks to the initiative taken by the tahsildar and his team.

The only approach road which was being used by the couple for the last 28 years (ever since they constructed the house) that connects their house to Kuloor has been cut off following a complaint by ‘neighbours’.

 

 

 

 

Though Louis D’Souza slept on the ground when the JCB arrived to demolish the road on Tuesday morning, the police force physically carried him and helped the workers to demolish the road. Following the demolition, D’Souza has been running from pillar to post seeking justice.

It all began when D’Souza succeeded in getting an injunction against Rudolf D’Souza, a resident of the area, who was allegedly troubling the aged couple. In retaliation, D’Souza allegedly filed a complaint stating that the road (the only road that connects the aged couple’s house) blocks the free flow of water in the lake, located in the vicinity.

Based on the complaint by the ‘residents,’ Tahsildar Ravichandra Nayak issued a notice dated June 2, 2012, to Louis D’Souza to take steps to make way for free flow of water.

Though Louis D’Souza immediately replied to the notice through registered post, the tahsildar’s office reportedly did not receive the reply. On the other hand, D’Souza had also requested the authorities concerned to survey the area (as per law) and then take a decision. However, neither the authorities concerned surveyed the area nor they have given time.

 

 

D’Souza was in for a shock on June 19 when officials along with the police force and JCB landed at Melkoppala and cut off the only link road to D’Souza’s home.
Interestingly, D’Souza has also given in writing that he, on his own expense, would take any steps suggested by the authorities concerned, including construction of another drain (already there is a drain), if necessary. “However, they have taken a decision in haste, without giving an opportunity,” he rued.

The ‘neighbours’ complaint states that D’Souza has blocked the free flow of water (though it does not affect any neighbour in any way!) by laying a new road.

But the very fact that there exists electricity poles (that supply power to couple’s house) and underground water supply pipelines, is enough proof that the road is not new.

Out of the three children of the aged couple, two daughters have been married and settled and the only son is working abroad. The aged man was found running from pillar to post in the deputy commissioner’s office on Wednesday, hoping for a solution so that his aged and sick wife can be reached to hospital, in case of necessity.

Tahsildar speaks
When contacted, Tahsildar Ravichandra Nayak said that the demolition was carried out as the road was “unscintific” and “illegal”. To another query on cutting off the only link road, he said that “he can’t help it.”

“Let them contact Mangalore City Corporation, get their permission, construct a drain in a scientific way,” he said.

Courtesy: Deccan Herald