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

Rasta Roko, Jail Bharo on Oct 15 at Pumpwell

Mangaluru, Oct 2: In a decisive step towards strengthening the crusade against the controversial Yettinahole Integrated Drinking Water Project, various organizations opposed to the project have joined hands and unitedly formed the Netravati Nadhi Samrakshana Okkuta (Save Netravati River Union) to protest under a single banner.

The union has selected Dr Niranjan Rai as the convener of the Okkuta and leaders of various organizations as assistant conveners.

Addressing a press meet at Pathmudi Soudha here, Dr Niranjan Rai said, "Netravati Samrakshana Okkuta will hold 'rasta roko' and 'jail bharo' protesting against the ongoing Yethinahole project on October 15 at Mahaveer circle at 10:30 am. People from the entire Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts will take part in the protest.

"All gram panchayats and taluk panchayats in Dakshina Kannada should pass resolution against the project. If any of the panchayats fail to do so, our committees will protest in front of those panchayats," he said.

"Though Karnataka Neeravari Nigam has given a written undertaking in the National Green Tribunal court that work would be stopped till the environment clearances are obtained, the state government has continued the work. The government itself is violating the law and cheating the people of the state, especially the people of the coastal region. Officials are saying that they are sure of getting the necessary clearances. We condemn such attitude," he added.

Activist Dinesh Holla of Sahyadri Samrakshana Sanchaya said, "The government wants to implement the Paramashivayya report. The entire project is nothing but bogus. We will also demand government to declare Pushpagiri to Kudremukh as Netravati Conservation Zone. If not, the government in future may take up various anti-environmental projects.

"The committee has decided to print 1,000 banners and put them up in private properties to create awarness on Netravati river," he added.

Shashidar Shetty said, "A team from the region of Kolar and Chikkaballapur will be visiting Dakshina Kannada district to study this project and we will also go to Kolar and Chikkballapur to convince the people there that this is not a drinking water project but only an attempt to fool the people. Various documents against the project will be disclosed in future."

The various organizations/individuals in the union are: Malenadu Janapara Horata Samiti, Sakleshpur, Netravati Ulisi Samiti, Uppinangady, Jevevanandi Netravati Ulisi Horata Samiti, Mangaluru, Sahyadri Sanchaya, Mangaluru, Kannada Katte, Mangaluru, Tulunada Rakshana Vedike, Mangaluru, Netravati Ulisi Horata Samiti, Beltangady, Rashtriya Parisara Samrakshana Okkuta, Mangaluru, Malenadu Youth Association, All College Students Association, Arivu Samvada Kendra Bantwal, Netravati Nadhi Samrakshana Vedike, Bantwal, Bantwal Taluk Nyayapara Samiti, Bantwal, Swaroop Adyhana Kendra, Mangaluru, Malenadu Jana Hitharakshana Vedike, Shiradi, Kannada Rakshana Vedike Mangaluru, Raita Sangha, Mangaluru, Vijayakumar Hegde, Raita Mukhanda Udupi, Raghunath Rao Puttur, Kaveri Nadi Horata Samiti, Mangaluru Bar Association, and Indian Medical Doctors Association Mangaluru.