Daijiworld Media Network - Beltangady (SP)

Belgantady, May 13: A case stands filed in Chennai bench of National Green Tribunal against Karnataka chief minister, Siddaramaiah, who has been accused of continuing with works under Yettinahole project in spite of bitter opposition from environmentalists and people of Dakshina Kannada district alike.

The application, which accuses the CM, who also happens to be the chairman of Karnataka Neeravari Nigam Ltd, of destroying stretches of forest without authorization while executing the said project. The case will now be heard on May 19.

This case, which was the second edition of the original application, had been registered in the court originally on March 28. Initially the tribunal had refused to accept the review application filed by advocate representing environmentalist, K N Somashekhar. When the court expressed resentment at the repeated applications being filed on Yettinahole, the advocate had convinced the bench about injustice faced in the execution of the project. Thereafter, the concerned were asked to file the application afresh. The application filed in March was taken up for consideration by the court on Thursday. It took up hearing of this petition, duly considering it as a fresh petition. Somashekhar said that this happens to be an integrated petition over Yettinahole, which has been brought before the tribunal, duly ensuring that it does not suffer from even minor defects.

Karnataka Neeravari Nigam Ltd, which has been executing a number of irrigation project including Yettinahole, has encroached upon forest land without authority for its works. If the petition is accepted in its entirety, the CM, who happens to be the chairman of the Nigam, may face the consequence of being jailed for this violation.

"The case in which hearing was completed in January this year, has not yet been out. Stay was vacated, and the Nigam is continuing with illegal works, causing destruction of the Western Ghats," Somashekhar stated.