Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (DV)

Mangaluru, Sep 25: Various organizations, experts and leaders of different communities came together at Sahodaya hall here on Friday September 25 to discuss the Yettinahole Integrated Drinking Water Project and pledged their support to the joint movement against the project.

The meeting was organized by Karavali Jeevanadi Netravati Rakshana Samiti.

Addressing the gathering Prof S G Mayya of NIT-K Suratkal, an expert in hydrology, said, "This project has been given various names since 2010 and finally called the Yettinahole Integrated Drinking Water Project. But nowhere are they ready to accept that it is diversion of the Netravati river. Many streams join together to make one river. Yettinahole is also a stream that joins Netravati river. In the detailed project report (DPR), Netravati is mentioned several times but nowhere are they ready to call it diversion. Using different names for this project, people are being misled and confused.

"Where is the feasibility report? Has it been prepared at all, and if so where is it? The DPR says that the water obtained from the project is not only to fulfill the drinking needs of the people of Kolar and Chikkaballapur, but also to meet industrial needs of Bengaluru and rural Bengaluru. The DPR has been prepared by calculating the rainfall in a coffee estate in the Yettinahole region in Sakleshpur. The National Institute of Hydrology has stated that it has given only a preliminary report and detailed report is yet to be done. The DPR is utter nonsense," Prof Mayya said.

"There will not be 24 TMC of water available as projected. The availibility of water is not more than 9 TMC. Analysis of the supply and demand of water has not been done. If it was for fulfilling drinking water needs of Kolar, only 2 TMC of water would be required during 2015 and 5 TMC in 2024, but here the projected amount is 24 TMC. Hence this project is also for meeting industrial needs in Devanahalli and Bengaluru," he contended.

"This is also an attempt to rejuvenate Palar and Pennar rivers which will lead to inter-state dispute (with Andhra Pradesh) in future. Hence we need to raise our voice now. This will also affect the Western Ghats. Eight weirs will come up in Western Ghats to pump water to the main weir. Also, pipelines will be installed along 274 km to tranmit the water. This will lead to water theft and people of Kolar and Chikkaballapur may not get water at all," he said.

"There are many water-based projects in Bengaluru and I have been told that their source would be the Netravati river. This is very important point, and we need to wake up. If the government cannot meet 24 TMC of water from the project and it becomes a failure, water will also be lifted from other water bodies in Uppinangady.

"Our water right, which is very important, has been denied. Hence we need to unite. When the Western Ghats are affected, it will also affect the east-flowing rivers, as all rivers orginate from the Western Ghats. Even excess or surplus water should not be used, as there is no excess water in Dakshina Kannada itself.

"It is a badly prepared DPR. We should stop this work. It is a waste of taxpayer's money," he added.

Regarding Paschima Vahini project, he said, "Paschima Vahini is nothing but an attempt to divert the attention of the people from Yettinahole issue. No DPR has been done on it."

Activist M G Hegde said, "We should stop this project to protect our civilization. It is a tactic to industrialize the entire coastal belt. This project will affect the fishermen. This movement against the Yettinahole project will turn into a coastal revolution."

Dakshina Kannada Bunts' alias Nadavara Mathru Sangha president Ajit Kumar Malady said, "All people should unite in this revolution, irrespective of caste, creed, religion and gender, in order to protect the environment. Agriculture is already declining in the district. We have also organized a signature campaign."

PRO of Mangaluru diocese Fr William Menezes said, "We went through water scarcity for five days in June. Hence all organizations should unite for this cause. We protest when our religious sentiments are hurt, so when our lifeline is being affected here, we need to come together. The Christian community will always support this cause."

Former mayor Ashraf said, "We should also have a district bandh and our MLAs and ministers should resign for this cause. The Muslim community and organizations will support the cause."

Mohandas of Billava Maha Mandala, Harikrishna Punaroor, Prasad Raj Kanchan also spoke on the occasion.

P V Mohan welcomed the gathering. Dinesh Holla, Dinakar Shetty, Prakash Shetty Jeppu of Tulunada Rakshana Vedike, Denis D'Silva, and others were present.

The meeting came up with the following demands:

- Provide alternative facility to supply drinking water to Kolar, Chikkaballapur and other districts

- Drop Yettinahole project

- Next meeting by the government should be held in Mangaluru and not Bengaluru.

- This movement against Yettinahole project should turn into a great revolution in the coastal region.