Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Apr 25: Addressing a press conference in the city on Wednesday April 24, environmentalists urged the district in-charge minster and seven legislators from the district to firmly oppose Yettinahole project which aims at diverting water from Yettinahole, a tributary of River Netravati, to parched districts of Chikkaballapur, Kolar and Bengaluru rural.

They warned that unless the people's representatives from the district raise their voices in unison against the project, black flags will be waved at the minister and seven legislators in their programmes.

The press conference was held under the aegis of Sahyadri Sanchaya and National Environment Protection Union. President of the union, Shasidhar Shetty, speaking on the occasion, pointed out that the people of the district are struggling for water and wanted to know from the leaders how do they propose to divert water from a drought-hit district to another such district. "The minister and legislators should wholeheartedly stand against the project, hold dharna in the assembly seeking withdrawal of the project. If they fail, we will welcome them with black flags wherever they go," he stated.

He noted with regret that during the Lok Sabha election campaigning, no candidate raised the topic of this project and reasoned that the previous in-charge minster was defeated because of not taking stand against the said project. He noted that there have been claims by the leaders to implement the project from next year. "But I bet they cannot supply water even after five years," he said.

Shashidhar Shetty drew the attention of the people to the fact that various projects are being implemented in all the tributaries of River Netravati which flow in the western ghats,right from Yelaneeru to Pushpagiri."Last year, to conduct works at Yettinahole, water was brought secretly from River Hemavathi. How can they hope to harvest water from a project for the execution of which they do not have enough water?" he quipped. He added that sanction has been given for hydel power projects at 26 places all along River Netravati. He said that even after the projects were completed at Nidle,Mrityunjaya and Gundia, they have failed for want of water. "Now survey is being conducted for such projects at Parpiallu and Bandaje. These are schemes aimed at wasting tax payers money and execute murderous attack on mother nature," he added.

Anita S Bhandarkar was present.