Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (DV)

Mangaluru , Aug 8: “Flouting all laws and policies, the state government has started the work on Yettinahole project in the pristine surroundings of Sakleshpur in Hassan district despite relentless protest by the people of Dakshina Kannada district," said Dinesh Holla, convener of Sahyadri Samrakshana Sanchaya.

He was addressing the press meet at Pathmudi Saudha here on Saturday August 8.

"In places like Sakaleshpur, Kumbaradi, Kesaganahalli, Hebbasale, Kuduvarahalli, several trees have been cut down for construction of roads without the permission of the forest department. This is a gross violation of Karnataka Preservation of Trees Act," Holla said.

"The government has started the work without legally acquiring the land and providing suitable compensation for those who lost their land for the project, and without public approval and proper survey. This is a form of suppression by the government. In places like Ankihalli, Hebbanahalli, Hebbasale, Sathigal, 16 feet long pipes are being constructed in 48 acres of agricultural land at a cost of Rs 1,200 crore. On the one hand, the government is claiming that it is protecting the elephant corridor but on the other hand the government is using the Kagenere forest land for this project. This ambiguous stand of the government is baffling," he added.

Environmentalist T V Ramachandra in his scientific report stated that only 9 TMC of water can be obtained from Yettinahole project and not 24 TMC as projected by the government. "For the remaining 15 TMC of water, the government is secretly planning to use Kumaradhara river. The work on dam and pipeline are going in Mangaluru-Bengaluru stretch. Hence, this may result in traffic problem and cause inconvenience to railways in the coming days. All these will result in destruction of farmers' livelihood," he said.

"MP Nalin Kumar Kateel in his election manifesto had claimed that he would never allow this project, but he is silent on the subject now. The district in-charge minister Ramanath Rai is also acting as if he has no connection with this project," he alleged.

"This is also a strategy of the government to snatch the livelihood of farmers. This project is an attempt to mint money. We are facing water scarcity in the district and even this year the rain has not been adequate. Awareness should be spread among people about all this," he added.

Sashidhar Shetty, Sapna Norohana, Harish Adyar, Kateel Dinesh Pai and others were present.