Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Nov 12: National Green Tribunal (NGT) has lashed out at the central and Karnataka governments for their negligent handling of environmental concerns relating to Yettinahole drinking water project.

The bench, presided over by Justice Swatanter Kumar, when hearing petitions filed by K N Somashekhar, Purushotham Chitrapur and others opposing the said project, raised pointed questions at these two governments and sought answers.

Advocate for Karnataka Neeravari Nigam Ltd, to which the execution of this project has been entrusted, said that as per the project report earlier, 600 hectares of forest land was needed for the project. He explained that this has been pruned down to 13.93 hectares after reconsideration. He added that the state has been permitted by the centre to cut down 4,995 trees.

Karnataka state advocate general, Mudhusudan Naik, presented arguments on behalf of the state. He said that under this project, rainwater received in the rivulet during monsoon months is proposed to be diverted to drought-hit districts of the state. In an instant retort, presiding officer of the bench, Justice Swatanter Kumar, questioned him about the steps taken to address the loss of forest under the project. He asked the state to plant 27,000 saplings to compensate for 2,700 trees that have already been felled. He wanted to know steps taken to implement Kasturirangan and Madhav Gadgil report on environment conservation in Western Ghats. He observed that the environment ministry has failed to follow the advice given to conduct carrying capacity of Western Ghats.

The hearing stands adjourned to December 2, to give time to central and state governments and also Karnataka Neeravari Nigam Ltd to come out with their response for the above questions, and also asking the petitioners to present their arguments in abridged form.