Mangaluru: Representatives of the Bajpe Town Panchayat staged a protest on Saturday, August 8, accusing the authorities of Mangaluru International Airport (MIA) of negligence, mismanagement and failing to respond adequately to issues raised by local public representatives.
The protest was organised to draw attention to various demands and grievances concerning the airport and its surrounding areas. Local representatives alleged that repeated concerns had not received satisfactory attention from the airport authorities.
Airport officials receive memorandum
During the agitation, officials from Mangaluru International Airport arrived at the protest site and received a memorandum containing the demands raised by the protesters.
The memorandum was submitted in the presence of Mangaluru International Airport officials and under the leadership of local MLA Umanath Kotian.
The protesters sought action on the issues raised by the Bajpe Town Panchayat and urged the airport authorities to respond to the concerns of local residents and elected representatives.
The participation of local elected representatives highlighted the growing demand for greater coordination between the airport administration and the surrounding local bodies.
Authorities assure action by month-end
Following discussions with the protesters, airport officials reportedly assured them that the demands raised during the agitation would be addressed by the end of August.
The assurance led the protesters to temporarily withdraw the agitation.
However, the representatives made it clear that the withdrawal was conditional on the airport authorities fulfilling the commitments within the stipulated period.
They warned that failure to address the issues by the end of the month would result in a more intensified protest in the next phase.
Local representatives participate
A number of Bajpe Town Panchayat representatives participated in the protest.
Those present included Town Panchayat president Lokesh Poojary, vice-president Mallika Chandrashekar, Standing Committee chairman Ritesh Shetty and councillors Siraj Bajpe, Rajesh Amin, Padmanabha, Jayanth, Jacob Pereira, Kiran, Gulshan Banu, Farzana, Dinesh and Supritha Shetty, among others.
The representatives collectively raised concerns and sought timely intervention from the airport administration.
Protest temporarily withdrawn
The protest ended after airport officials received the memorandum and gave an assurance regarding action on the demands.
The protesters, however, maintained that the assurance would be monitored closely. They said the next course of action would depend on whether the commitments were implemented within the promised timeframe.
The development comes amid continued demands from local representatives for better coordination and responsiveness from major infrastructure establishments operating in and around their jurisdictions.
With the deadline set for the end of August, the implementation of the assurances given by the airport authorities is expected to determine whether the issue is resolved or leads to another round of agitation.