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

Mangaluru, Sep 16: Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) on Wednesday September 16 staged a protest in front of the DC's office demanding the scrapping of the ongoing Yettinahole Integrated Drinking Water Project and urged the government to find an alternative.

Addressing the protestors, K Ramesh, ABVP state secretary said, "ABVP is not against providing water to other districts but there should have been a full-fledgef meeting with the DK district prior to finalizing the project, and the government should have taken the people into confidence.

"The taxpayers' money is going to be wasted as fresh report says that there is only 9 TMC of water available. The pipes which have already arrived here will be of no use. The central and the state governments have to find an alternative to the problems of the north Karnataka districts. The CM has to organize a meeting to discuss the pros and cons of the project and communicate them to the public. Till the people feel confidet that the Western Ghats will not be harmed or there will be no water shortage to coastal region, the project has to be stopped.

"ABVP backs former union minister Janardhan Poojary who has urged the chief minister to scrap the project in a letter. ABVP is ready to fight for this cause and will not rest till the demands are met," he asserted.

Addressing the protestors ABVP vice-president Suhan said, "The government's decision to execute Yettinahole project will create a huge water crisis in the district. The people of DK cannot turn off the lights in our houses to light someone else's house, we also need to survive. We are not camels, we are human beings. The people of villages and students are on roads and protesting against the project but the people of the city are not concerned. The statement of Congress leader M Veerappa Moily in support of the project is irrational and ABVP strongly condemns it. ABVP will intensify the protest and will organize hunger strikes till our demands are met."

ABVP also organized a protest rally from Jyothi cirle to DC's office. Hundreds of students from various colleges participated in the protest.