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

Mangaluru, Sep 21: Senior Congress leader Janardhan Poojary on Monday September 21 alleged that the controversial Yettinahole Integrated Drinking Water Project was a 'major scam' and a 'conspiracy', and demanded CID probe into the project.

Addressing a press meet at the district Congress office here, Poojary said, "Yettinahole project is a major scam and a few political representatives and officials are misleading the chief minister and keeping him in the dark. This is a conspiracy to destabilise the government. Hence a CID probe should be ordered into the project so that the truth comes out," he said.

Asserting that only 0.85 TMC of water would be available as against the projected 24 TMC, he said, "Yettinahole does not have 24 TMC of water. T V Ramachandra and three other scientists from the Indian Institute of Science have shown this. They have studied the project and prepared a detailed report. They have also stated that only 9.7 TMC of water is available, out of which 5.8 TMC is being used by the locals and 2.8 TMC flows out, and the only water available is 0.85 TMC."

Slammed former CM and current union law minister D V Sadananda Gowda (DVS) for approving the project, Poojary said, "It was Sadananda Gowda who approved the project - Does he not have any knowlege and has he not read the IISc report? Still he says water will be taken from Yettinahole. You (DVS) are cheating the innocent people of Kolar, Tumakuru and Chikkaballapur. Already, Rs 1,142 crore has been spent on this project - this is people's money. Have you taken permission?

"This project costs Rs 13,000 crore. For just one TMC of water (as claimed by Poojary) so much money is being spent. This amount may be spent over a course of 15 years and for project to complete it may take 30 years and Rs 30,000 crore in all. What is the use of doing all this for just one TMC of water?" he questioned.

"The chief minister is being misled on the issue. The CM has been doing good work in the last two-and-a-half years and this is a conspiracy to destabilize the government. Global tender has to be called for any project that costs more than Rs 20 crore. The project has been given to Meghana Constructions, of which corruption-tainted IAS officer Kapil Mohan is a partner," he said.

"The Karnataka Neeravari Nigam Ltd (KNNL) in its affidavt to the the National Green Tribunal stated that only 13 hectares of forest land would be destroyed. But according to the scientists, 1,000 hectares of land is required for this project," he added.

Responding to the statement by DVS that Yettinahole project should not be used to settle personal scores, Poojary said, "I am not doing all this for personal reasons. I have never done it and will never do so in future also. I am telling the truth not for my survival but for the survival of the people of Dakshina Kannada.

"You (DVS) are ruining people's lives. Do you think people will forgive you? If the people of Kolar and Tumakuru realize that they have been fooled, you will never be able to show your face there again.

"I have never played dirty politics. I was silent when your (DVS') son was facing accusations. Now you are doing this for votes. Lies cannot last for long," he added.

Criticizing health minister U T Khader for supporting the Yettinahole project, he said, "Ministers Abhaychandra Jain and Ramanath Rai have realized that this project is harmful. But Khader is talking whatever comes to his mind and changing his stance every minute. Is he not a lawyer?Has he read the IISc report?"

"All the work cannot be done by the CM alone, hence he relies on people's representatives. Everyone including elected representatives and actvists should approach the Green Tribunal against this project," he urged.

He further questioned, "Where is MP Shobha Karandlaje? Why she is not raising her voice against this project, despite hailing from the coastal region? Why is she silent?"

"CID inquiry should be ordered into the project and truth should come out. Proper action should be taken against those involved," he demanded.

When reporters asked why the CM himself had not read the IISc report on the project, Poojary said, "One person cannot do all the work, that is why there are different departments. It is the job of the department concerned to read the report."

Asked if he would approach the party high command to appeal against the project, he said, "I am communicating with the high command through the media by holding these press meets. The high command will know it by reading it in the media."

On why he was naming Shobha Karandlaje and not minister Vinay Kumar Sorake who also hails from the coastal region, he said, "I have never spared anyone. I have spoke against everyone."

When asked if he was ready to hold a hunger strike against Yettinahole project, Poojary said, "If there is any hope of response from state and union governments, I am ready to go on hunger strike not just for a day but a whole week. But there will be no response."

He also added that addressing press meets on the issue was one way of crusading against the project.