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

Mangaluru, Dec 21: Former MLA and president of Karavali Jeevanadi Netravati Rakshana Samiti Vijaykumar Shetty on Monday December 21 informed that an all-party delegation had apprised union ministers Prakash Javadekar and Uma Bharti about the adverse impact the Yettinahole project would have on Dakshina Kannada and received a positive response from them.

Giving details about the meeting with the union ministers, Vijaykumar Shetty said, "On December 17 an all-party delegation which included anti-Yettinahole project activists and environmental activists along with MP Nalin Kumar Kateel met union minister for environment Prakash Javadekar and apprised him about the adverse effects of Yettinahole project on the Netravati river basin and the environment.

"NIT-K's Prof S G Mayya explained the demerits of the project to the minister, pointing out that there is no sufficient water in the catchment area or the Netravati river basin as projected. The entire project is misleading and it will be a failure," Shetty said.

"The information about rainfall furnished in the detailed project report (DPR) is wrong. The DPR was prepared with wrong calculations of rainfall in the catchment area. This is not only a drinking water project but a multi-purpose project which will affect the Western Ghats and the coastal area. As many as 13 hectares of forest area will be destroyed spending crores of public money. The project is anti-people and it should not get clearance. This is what we told the minister," he informed.

Stating that Javadekar had given a positive response, Shetty said, "In response, union minister Javadekar said that he would consider the matter. He opined that the project report should be examined in detail and assured that if it affects the people of the coastal area and would create scarcity of drinking water in Dakshina Kannada, appropriate measures would be taken. He also assured that his ministry would not take any decision in a hurry.

"The minister also immediately called director general of forests Dr Sharad Singh Negi and asked him not to take any decision in the regional enforcement committee meeting in the state scheduled to be held on January 18," he added.

The delegation also included retired IAS officer V V Bhat, Mangaluru deputy mayor Purushotham Chitrapur, Shashiraj Shetty Kolambe, Ramachandra Baikampady, K N Somashekar, advocate Prince Isaac and BJP leader Sanjeeva Matandoor.

Prof S G Mayya addressed the press meet and said, "We also met union minister for water resources Uma Bharti and explained that the project was a clear violation of the National Water Policy. She said that though the project does not come under her ministry, she would look into it if there was violation of the Policy and
write to the environment and forest department. In the last meeting of the regional enforcement committee, member of the committee Dr Yellappa Reddy had presented 8 points opposing the Yettinahole project.

"The government and the Karnataka Neeravari Nigam Ltd (KNNL) officials have taken this issue very seriously. Advocate general and senior officers of KNNL attended the court hearing today (Monday December 21). On the other hand people of Kolar and Chikkaballapur are protesting demanding permanent solution for water problems. We feel this is a political drama."

Deputy mayor Purushottam Chitrapur said, "On December 26, officials of the government will visit the project site. Activists from Dakshina Kannada will also visit the site and give memorandum to the officials. In the coming days the protest will intensify."

Vijaykumar Shetty lamented that the chief minister had failed to hold a public hearing in Dakshina Kannada despite assurances, and that minister from the district had also not shown any interest in the matter.