Daijiworld Media Network - Kolar (SP)

Kolar, Jun 10: "Those who wanted to execute Netravati River Diversion or Netravati River Water Sharing Project should have presented a detailed report before the people about the project, taken all people into confidence, won over their trust, and should have taken up the project after getting their nod. The way the project is being implemented is likely to result in divide between the people of the coast and those living in the plains. This is condemnable," observed Dharmasthala Dharmadhikari, Dr D Veerendra Heggade.

He was speaking after inaugurating a function organized in the outskirts of Malur town in the district on Wednesday June 8 in connection with the inauguration of 10,001st Pragathibandhu self help group, and distribution of various facilities.

Heggade expressed the view that every citizen of Karnatake should treat fellow citizens as their own siblings. He felt that it is not proper to fight over water. "The relationship between those living in that coast and the ones living in the plains is very valuable. Not only people of the plains, but those living in the coast have also been thirsty for water. People of the coast have since the last several years been fighting against the project whereas people in this part of the state feel that this project will solve their problems. The government should have placed all the facts and integrated project report before the people of Kaarntaka coast and convinced them about the efficacy of the project. The effort being made to put people of these two regions at loggerheads is condemnable," he said.

He also expressed the hope that Lord Manjunatha will solve this problem at the earliest.

On this occasion, Heggade laid foundation stone for development works of Gajagundla temple pond. MLA, K S Manjunath Gowda, and Kolar-Chikkaballapur Milk Unon Ltd director, K Y Nanje Gowda, placed silver crown on the head of Dr Heggade.

Hemavati V Heggade, MP, K H Muniyappa, former minister, S N Krishnaiah Shetty, tahsildar, S Nagaraj, zilla panchayat president, Geetamma, vice president, Yashodamma, Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala Rural Development Project executive director,Dr L H Manujnath, and several others were present.