Shivamogga: Congress MLA Gopal Krishna Belur Wednesday defended the closure of an open well in front of his house in Ward 18 (Gandhi Nagar), rejecting allegations that it was done on the advice of astrologers.
The MLA had lobbied hard for the minister’s post but lost to Madhu Bangarappa.
He said an alternative public well had already been dug and commissioned before the old structure was closed, ensuring local residents faced no drinking water disruptions. Belur said he would file defamation lawsuits against Halappa and four associates, while accusing Halappa of previously encroaching upon local public lakes. It is alleged that the well, located on the premises of the Swami Vivekananda Library, was situated in the northeast (Eshanya) direction of the legislator’s residence, which astrologers claimed was blocking his chances of securing a coveted cabinet minister post.
Those staging false protests to play election politics, despite their own history of encroaching upon public lakes, will face legal defamation action,” the MLA said. “As an ordinary legislator, I do not go around closing public wells out of superstition. An alternative well was fully dug and commissioned before taking this step.