Pics: Brijesh Garodi
Daijiworld Media Network—Mangalore

Mangalore, Jan 7: "The Nethravathi River Diversion project is the prime project likely to destroy Tulunadu and its beauty. Tulunada Rakshana Vedike will never allow this project to be carried out," said Yogish Kumar Jeppu, founder president, Tulunada Rakshana Vedike, addressing press persons at Hotel Woodlands on Monday January 6.

"Some foreign companies which are setting up their manufacturing units in Mangalore are using the water, land, and other raw materials of this region. But, after the project is completed, they hire outsiders for the job and we protest this agenda as well,” he added.

“The population in DK is increasing, along with an increase in the number of outsiders settling down here. Water shortage is a prime problem faced by the people here, especially in the month of April, May, and the high summer seasons. Even as this problem remains unsolved over years, the government has been trying to divert Nethravati River which is the prime source of water for Tulunadu. This is indeed an unscientifically planned step approved by the government. The concerned officers and the government must take back this project and save the Nethravathi and Tulunadu, failing which, we will hold a massive protest in the coming days,” added Jeppu.

“Some outside companies which come to set up their manufacturing companies in Mangalore, promise to give job opportunities to the people of Mangalore and once the project is completed, they hire outsiders and break their promises. This sort of behavior will not be further accepted by anyone here. There are too many outsiders in Mangalore and the vicinity and their exact details are not available, hence the crime rate is also increasing in the city. Hence, the companies working here must hire the locals and giver proper job opportunities to the youth of Mangalore,” he urged.

“Bharath Shipyard is one such company that had promised to give nearly 1,200 jobs to the local youth. But only 211 were locals and all the rest who are working there are outsiders. Again, in recent days, 108 among the 211 have been taken out as the officers say that the company is experiencing loss, whereas they have been hiring people from outside. We, along with other unions, have been protesting against this issue and the company has been shut down from nearly three months. There are many companies in our neighbourhood who are doing so and we are to hold a massive protest in the coming days if these problems are not solved at the earliest,”warned Jeppu. 

Pramod Salian Ballalbagh and many others joined the association on this occasion. Yogish Kumar Jeppu welcomed them by wrapping the association shawl around them.

Leaders Krishna Gatty Someshwara, Hameed Hassan, Naven Suvarna Tannirubhavi, Latheesh Puthran, Srikanth Salian, Zakeer Ullal, Nazeef Ullal, Jyothika Jain, Ravi Shetty Madoor, Praveen Das, Tharnath Jattanna, Mohandas Kulal, Janardhan, Yathish Bajpe, and Nagaraj were present.