Tension prevailed in the gathering organized to collect public opinion on the setting up of a power generation unit at Balabhadrapuram in East Godavari district. The collector had to abruptly adjourn the meeting amid tension and chaos.
The collector and other district officials came here to collect public opinion as the residents of nearby villages are opposing the power project.
Thousands of villagers came to the assigned place. They raised slogans against the public opinion gathering initiative. They warned the officials to go back. Officials tried to convince them by stating that they came only to gather public opinion. But the villagers had not listened to the authorities and raised slogans stating that they did not want the project.
When police tried to intervene, people hurled stones at them. Some unidentified persons even hurled footwear at the dais. As the situation turned tense, collector announced that he was adjourning the meeting. Agitators in the meanwhile broke the chairs and pulled down the tents. The incident occurred at Dontamuru village under Bikkavolu mandal. While villagers are stating that they do not want the project, authorities say that it was not proper to obstruct them when they came to collect public opinion. (NSS)