Karwar (ENS): Villagers living the Nuclear Power Coporation India Limited(NPCIL) of Kaiga, staged a silent protest in front of Deputy Commissioner's office in Karwar on Wednedday opposing the fifth and sixth reactors at the nuclear plant.

Under the banner of Kaiga-Kali santrastara Sangha, villagers of Hartuga, Kuchegar and Virje alleged that are around 600 people living in these three villagers and most of them are dependent on agriculture.

For last few years, people of these villages have been suffering from health problems including cancer and paralysis. They also said nearly 70 percent people in the village suffer from one or the other diseases and do not have proper medical facility.There is a hospital at Mallapur which is operated with NPCIL's corporate social responsiblity fund, but doctors do not treat patients properly, they said.

To get medical facility, they have to come to Karwar which is about 60 km away, the villagers said.

They alleged that there are many educated youths in the village who are not given employment according to their qualifacation. The villagers submitted a memorandum to Deputy Commissioner SS Nakul opposing additional reactors at the Kaiga plant.