Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (DV)

Mangaluru, Oct 16: Senior Congress leader Janardhan Poojary on Friday October 16 performed 'Urulu Seve' and special puja at Kudrow Shree Gokarnanatheshwara Temple to pray for rain in the coastal region and against the implementation of the Yettinahole project.

Poojary, who is 78 year old, performed one round of Urulu Seve along with corporator Radhakrishna and others and then offered puja in the temple for the withdrawal of Yettinahole project.

Addressing the gathering thereafter, Poojary said, "Drought has hit many parts of Karnataka. Due to shortage of rain there is scarcity of drinking water. The Yettinahole project will affect the people of the coastal area, and especially Mangaluru city which has many medical and engineering colleges and hospitals. If there is no water due to Yettinahole project, drought will sure hit the coastal region and turn it into Rajasthan or the Sahara desert. This puja was performed to pray that Yettinahole project does not materialise.

"The problem of drinking water in Kolar, Chikkaballapur, Tumakuru and Bengaluru has been there from many decades, but this problem can be solved if there is political will. We are not against providing water, but only ask that people should not suffer. We are praying to Lord Shiva who brought Ganga to this earth to bless us with rain," he said.

"People in the country and the state also should pray for rain. May God give wisdom to the MLAs, MP, ministers, chief minister, Prime Minister and the union ministers to stop this project. They should come up with a decision to withdraw the project. I also pray on behalf of the fishermen," he added.

Ajith Kumar Malady, T K Sudhir, Harikrishna Bantwal, trustees of the Kudroli Temple and others were present.

In a press meet later, when Poojary was asked if he would attend the meeting called by the CM on October 19 to discuss the Yettinahole project, he said, "I have not been invited and I will not go. But those from this district attending the meeting should speak about the problems the district would face and urge the CM to stop the project."

He also denied rumours that he had and irrigation minister M B Patil had been called by the union government to discuss the project.

Asked if he would demand for a separate state for Tulunadu if the project was not dropped, he said, "I hope such a situation does not come. The political representatives should work to protect the interests of the people."