Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (DV)

Mangaluru, Sep 11: "In protest against the Yethinahole project, the Anti Netravati River Diversion Action Committee will hold a Bengaluru-Mangaluru national highway bandh and 'jail bharo' at Uppinangady near Hotel Adithya on September 15 at around 10 am," said Dr Niranjan Rai, convener of Anti Netravati River Diversion Action Committee.

Addressing a press meet here on Friday September 11, he said that nearly 10,000 people from the district, mainly from Sullia, Puttur and Beltangady taluks will take part in the protest.

"The government is deceiving the people of Dakshina Kannada by executing this project without a detailed project report and without any public hearing with the stake holders. Irrespective of religion, caste, creed and group, all people must support this cause. It is a do-or-die situation for the people of the district," he stressed.

"The huge pipelines laid at Sakleshpur make it clear that this is an effort to take water from Netravati and Kumaradhara River in the name of drinking water project. The project has been undertaken neglecting the opinions of experts and scientists who have said that this project is not feasible," he added.

He also termed the chief minister's statement supporting the project as 'irresponsible'. "It shows government's neglect toward the people of Dakshina Kannada district. The issue may turn into an agressive protest like Kalasa Banduri. It will become a national and an international issue and will be brought to the notice of UNESCO, because the Western Ghats has been declared a world heritage site," Dr Rai warned.

Dinesh Holla, Shashidhar Shetty, Raj Gopal Bhat, Prashanth D'Costa were present.