Hubballi: A rise in protests in the city in recent days has revived the long-pending demand for an exclusive protest zone on the lines of Freedom Park in Bengaluru.Political parties and other groups have been staging demonstrations at KC Circle, Sangolli Rayanna circle and near the Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation (HDMC) office to grab the authorities’ attention. With development works already narrowing routes and diverting traffic, commuters and residents have reported repeated disruptions, particularly at peak hours, as protests occupy road space, slow down vehicular flow and hamper other activities in the area.Bhushan Borase, police commissioner, Hubballi-Dharwad, said that he will discuss a dedicated protest zone in Hubballi with the DC and other officials.Rudresh Ghali, commissioner, HDMC, said that he will go through the files pertaining to establishing an exclusive protest zone and discuss them with all the concerned officials in this regard.Gurunath Ullikashi, president, Various Dalit Organisations Okkuta, said with protests now increasing and causing more trouble, once again we press for the exclusive protest zone. He also said that a dedicated space would allow demonstrations to be held in an orderly manner, without affecting traffic movement and day-to-day activities across key parts of the city.The demand is not new. The matter was discussed earlier in the HDMC general body meeting, but the proposal has remained on paper, even though several attempts were made during the tenure of Major Siddalingayya Hiremath and CM Noor Mansur when they served as commissioners of HDMC.Officials familiar with the earlier discussions said an exclusive protest zone had been earmarked, but the plan did not move forward due to property issues.Previously, an open site near MG Park was identified, and the HDMC was about to start construction of a permanent shelter for protests, along with drinking water facilities and toilets. That proposal, too, was stopped before work could begin.Protests have since continued at busy junctions and outside public offices, with organisers left without a designated space.
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