Mangaluru: About six Koraga families, who belong to particularly vulnerable tribal community (PVTG) living in Chelyaru village, Dakshina Kannada district, were deprived of drinking water supply. The issue triggered widespread opposition from left parties and like-minded organisations. As a result, taluk panchayat authorities visited the spot and restored water supply to families in the evening.Yogesh Jappinamogaru, Dakshina Kannada district coordinator, Karnataka Adivasi Hakkugala Samanvaya Samiti, said that the administration of Chelyaru gram panchayat is showing a cruel and retaliatory attitude towards the Koraga community, which is highly condemnable. Citing non-payment of bills, the drinking water connections of six economically weak Koraga families were cut off on Thursday, which is an affront to humanity, he said.Even after bringing this injustice to the attention of the district administration, the panchayat administration acted in a retaliatory manner instead of finding a solution, he alleged.“After their water connections were cut, the Koraga families were surviving by fetching water from the panchayat’s public tap in the colony. However, the panchayat administration, unable to tolerate even this, cut off the water supply from that tap as well, clearly exposing their cruel mindset. The administration stooped to the level of depriving the six Koraga families of water. Such behaviour towards a marginalised tribal community tramples on the values of democracy,” said Yogesh.He also warned intense protests against this injustice, if the issue is not solved. The issue was brought to DC Darshan HV’s notice, and later taluk panchayat authorities visited the spot and restored water supply.
