Deekshith D V
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (DV)
Mangaluru, Sep 29: "Yettinahole is a global problem which will damage nature and culture. 95% of the people in Kolar are against the project. They know that it is a fraud and can never be implemented.” said Shri Swami Anand Swaroop, president of Ganga Sewa Mission.
He was addressing Yettinahole activists here in city on Thursday, September 29.
Looting people's money
“But politicians want to materialize it by looting people's hard earned money. This project is an unnatural development against nature. As this is a problem pertaining to earth, nature, culture and nation, union government should intervene. The developmental changes should take place according to the laws of nature and not against them," he added.
Speaking to media later, he said that he is not supporting any political party. “As a Swami, it is my duty to save nature. This project has been taken up without an environment assessment, environment clearance and without holding a public hearing. I will move a petition to ministry of environment against this project. Union minister is very friendly to environment and he will definitely stop this disaster. I am against any kind unnatural development in the country. I will also bring this issue to the notice of prime minister. People of Kolar and Chikkaballapur know that this is a fraud project", he said.
Impact on Western Ghats
Retired professor of NITK, M G Mayya briefing about the project said that riparian rights of the people of Dakshina Kannada are neglected in the project. “The project will have dangerous impacts on Western Ghats. Yettinahole project is totally unrealistic, ill-conceived and a disaster with long term adverse effects. This project is being done to satisfy a few individuals for political reason without considering the environment", he said.
He said that he would have protested against the project even if he was in Tamil Nadu as the project will affect the Western Ghats. “As the catchment area of Cauvery lies in Karnataka and Kerala, damage to the Western Ghats puts people of Cauvery river basin into severe problem of water scarcity. Due to destruction of forests and environment, we have witnessed very low rainfall this year when compared to earlier years”, he said.
Rath Yatra for awareness
MP Nalin Kumar Kateel said that he will always be joining hands with activists. “We have already taken up legal and technological awareness campaign against this project. Government should stop the project and hold a public meeting. We will also hold Ratha Yatra soon to create awareness among the public", he said.
Former MLA Vijay Kumar Shetty, Niranjan Rai, Anwar Manippady and others were present.