Protest Continues in Koppal as Work Not Yet Stopped at Baldota Plant

Tension prevailed in Koppal on Wednesday afternoon when members of the Koppal Bachao Janandolana Samiti witnessed work still going at the Baldota steel plant, a day after Chief Minister Siddaramaiah ordered the closure of the plant in the wake of protests by local residents, organisations and activists.

- RAGHOTTAM KOPPAR @Koppal

Tension prevailed in Koppal on Wednesday afternoon when members of the Koppal Bachao Janandolana Samiti witnessed work still going at the Baldota steel plant, a day after Chief Minister Siddaramaiah ordered the closure of the plant in the wake of protests by local residents, organisations and activists. The Samiti members and Baldota company's security guards got into a heated argument after the former saw many mud-laden lorries entering the factory premises on Wednesday noon. The members raised slogans against Koppal DC Nalin Atul, accusing him of not obeying the Chief Minister's order. Members said that they also saw many earthmovers and other vehicles entering the premises on Wednesday.

Many members got angry over this and raised slogans against Koppal DC Nalin Atul and said that the DC has not followed the CM's order and demanded his transfer.

When the Samiti members tried to go inside the premises to see what was going on inside, the security guards blocked their entry, which led to a war of words between them.