Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (EP)

Mangaluru, May 18: The Dakshina Kannada district administration had called leaders of organizations who have decided to hold voluntary bandh on Thursday May 19 and persuaded them not to participate in the bandh. However the protesters refused to budge.

Deputy Commissioner A B Ibrahim said that as the protesters had not participated in the meeting regarding Yettinahole project, the government will be advised to hold another such meeting. Therefore the decision to hold a bandh is not appropriate. “22 lacs people live in the district. Several examinations are in progress. The bandh will cause monetary loss in the district,” he told them.

Netravathi Rakshana Samyuktha Samithi president Vijaya Kumar Shetty speaking on the occasion said that the government and the chief minister do not have clarity on Yettinahole project. “The project is being implemented to please some elected representatives and businessmen. It is not justifiable to say that it will not cause injustice in the district without conducting a scientific study. As the earlier meeting in this regard was held in Bengaluru during festivals, nobody could attend. If such a meeting is held again, we will definitely participate in it. Water from the 36 years long Varahi project has still not reached the beneficiaries. In these circumstances, how long will it take for the completion of this project? Is it possible to make 24 TMC water to reach the proposed destination?” he asked.

Social activist M G Hegde speaking on the occasion said “We are facing drought before the Yettinahole project. What will be our fate after its implementation?”

Netravathi Rakshana Sumyuktha Samithi’s Sathyajith Surathkal, Shashidhar Shetty Kolambe, Dinaker Shetty, Rahim Uchil, Harikrishna Bantwal and Jithendra Kothari participated. District SP Sharanappa, Additional SP Vincent Shatakumar, Puttur divisional officer Rajendra, Dakshina Kannada additional commissioner Kumar and others were present.