Karwar: Residents of Mudga Seabird colony protested in front of Deputy Commissioner’s office, in the City, on Monday, against construction of a Community Hall in Mudga Seabird Colony, where they (Seabird refugees) have built their houses and small shops.

The agitators said, to support the naval base project, many people have left their homes, fields and constructed small houses in Mudga Seabird Colony, for their livelihood. While, some opened shops to lead their lives, however, gram panchayat has planned to construct a community hall in this place, they said.

In this regard, gram panchayat officials have intimated the residents to vacate the place. As there is no need for community hall in this place, they can construct a well-equipped fish market or else they should allow residents to continue their small businesses, they urged.

There is already a community hall near Anjaneya temple here. As lot of space is available near the temple, gram panchayat can utilise that space. If residents have been asked to vacate the shops, then refugees will suffer, they said. Earlier, former deputy commissioner Ujjwal Kumar Ghosh had reviewed the place and approved the construction of well-equipped fish market. But, the proposal of its foundation was stopped mid-way. If there is construction of multi-storeyed building including a fish market, it would facilitate small vendors and fish selling women. Hence, district administration should instruct the gram panchayat in this regard.

Later they submitted a memorandum to Deputy Commissioner S S Nakul. Speaking after receiving the memorandum, Deputy Commissioner S S Nakul asked the agitators to hold discussions with panchayat officials in this regard.

Residents Uday Tandel, Prajwal Shet, Vijay Harikantra, Chandrakant Durgekar, Teku Durgekar, Parsu Harikantra were present.