Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (MD)
Mangaluru, Sep 14: District incharge minister Ramanath Rai on Monday September 14 said that 13.92 hectares of forest land in Sakleshpur taluk will be used for ongoing Yettinahole Integrated Drinking Water Project.
He was addressing a press meet at Circuit House here. Journalists of Dakshina Kannada bombarded Ramanath Rai with a series of questions on the controversial Yettinahole project, but the minister stood his ground and insisted that he was not responsible for the project.
"With a view to protect the sensitive areas of Western Ghats, when the Kasturirangan report had come, people who are in higher posts had complained that the state government had not submitted the report to the centre. Therefore in Bengaluru I spoke about it and supported the facts with documents. Kerala and Karnataka states have submitted the report, but as per my knowledge, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Goa and other states have still not done so," said Rai.
Briefing about the forest land acquired for the Yettinahole project, Rai said, "We have information about how much of forest land will be destroyed in hectares for the Yettinahole project. In Sakleshpur taluk, 13.92 hectare of forest land will be used for the project. The work has not yet started in our forest range, and so far the work has been done only in the outskirts of Sakleshpur forest. It is part of the Western Ghats. It is our duty to give clearance for work to be done in the forest areas.
"I am part of the government. Every political member from all the parties was in favour of this project, and discussions have been held many times. This was a unanimous decision, so no one should be a hypocrite," he added.
Asked about the ecological imbalance that Yettinahole project is likely to cuase, he said, "A study will be made on it. We have given clearance for many projects - for construction of roads, for water for tunnel and other developmental works. As a minister I know that 13.92 hectare land will be given for this project."
When asked whether he was not concerned about loss of 13.92 acres of forest land, Rai did not give a direct answer, and instead said, "You cannot point fingers on a single person as being responsible for this project. The chief minister has discussed it with all the MLAs. I am part of the government. There is Sadananda Gowda who also hails from this district. We will hold a meeting to clarify all the doubts."
He further said, "We have discussed this issue in the cabinet. I am bound by the decision taken by the government. The government's stance is my stance. There a lot of instances where forest land has been acquired for develpmental work. I cannot give my personal opinion here."
Even when reporters pointed out that a study by Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) stated that the Yettinahole project would lead to several problems, Rai insisted that he would still support the project as he is with the government.
"I am not taking any responsibility. If I take responsibility, then all others are also responsible. Every political person is responsible. I know what my responsibility is. We cannot speak speak in the Assembly, but we can discuss in the cabinet meeting," he said.
Asked what he would do if nobody gets water from the Yettinahole project, and if there was no value for the sentiments of the people, Rai said, "This is not the time to answer this question. If and when such a problem arises, then I will answer."
When reporters insisted that being the district incharge minister Rai should take responsibility for the project, he said, "I am here to look after the district and not to take any decision that goes against the government. The work has not started in the forest area yet, and if you (reporters) think it has, then you prove it.
"I am not at all responsible for this project. I will not accept it if media holds me responsible. If the project fails, everyone is responsible," he asserted.
When asked if he had read the report prepared by the Indian Institute of Science that says the project is not feasible, Rai replied in the negative.
As questions continued non-stop, a frustrated Rai made a veiled reference to senior Congress member Janardhan Poojary who is opposed to the project and said, "What can I do alone? There are people in our party to speak about our own party workers, but there is no BJP member who speaks about Sadananda Gowda or any other of their party members. Nobody spoke regarding the project in the beginning, and neither did I, because the project was accepted by both the parties. No MLAs spoke about it. I cannot answer all of your questions. Government's stance is my stance."
The mediapersons expressed anger at the minister for not speaking on behalf of the people of the district in the cabinet regarding the project. When Rai invited the media to have lunch after the press meet, they rejected the offer and walked away.