From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Dec 4: Karnataka has decided to seek more time from the National Green Tribunal to give its stand on the appropriateness of the controversial Yettinaholeproject, which is facing stiff resistance from the people of the coastal region.

The State Government’s decision, however, is guided the expectation of getting clearance from the Union Ministry of Forest and Environment on December 18.

The National Green Tribunal would hear the case on Monday (December 7) and the State Government will inform to the NGT on maintaining the status quo on the project.

The State Government, however, would not go ahead with executing the work on the project till further orders from the Tribunal, State’s Water Resources Minister M B Patil told presspersons after an all-party meeting in Bengaluru on Friday.

The project covers 14 acres of the forest in Western Ghat.

The Union Ministry of Forest and Environment would be holding a meeting on December 18 and the State Government is expecting that the Centre would clear the State’s plea, Patil said.

After clearance from the UnionMinistry of Forest and Environment, the State Government would clarify its position on the appropriateness of the drinking water project before the NGT, Patil added.

The meeting chaired by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was attended by BJP Leaders K S Eshwarappa, R Ashok, JD(S) leader BasavarajHoratti and Cabinet ministers.

Siddaramaiah said that the project would not be stopped and assured Opposition leaders that the hurdles for the project would be cleared.

The Rs 12,912 crore Yettinahole project envisages drinking water to districts of Bengaluru Rural, Kolar, Tumakuru and Chikbballapur districts.