Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (HB/EP)
Udupi, Aug 31: “Those who oppose Gadgil and Kasturirangan reports that are prepared to preserve Western Ghats, are puppets of politicians who have acquired forests. The entire ghat section is becoming victim to different mafias as the reports are not implemented,” alleged environment activist Dinesh Holla.
He addressed a state level programme on exchange of opinions with experts about land, water and life in the coast held at Ravindra Mantapa auditorium of MGM College, Udupi on Friday. He said natural calamities occur due to different unscientific projects. “The green cover vanishes due to resort mafia causing natural disasters.
“All the parties unite when such proposals come. Yettinahole project does not have a DPR, the origin of river, catchment area or details of quantity of water during monsoons or summer, but the river is being diverted just because the plains do not have water spending crores,” he alleged.
“Yettinahole is not drinking water project, but of Bengaluru industrial mafia. The river is made the victim for votes, seats and notes. The government which calls to save Western Ghats on one side, gives permission to different mafias on other side,” he said.
“The farms, plantations and fields where water was getting collected are concretized. All the projects are taking place against nature. None of the government projects are required if at least 500 rivers out of 3080 rivers are revived. Nobody asks what caused drought conditions. Thoughtless projects of the government, negligence of people toward forests and Western Ghats cause danger. Forest has become a place for dumping waste. Leave Western Ghats alone, no projects are required,” said Dinesh.
Wildlife expert Kripakar Senani said that the movement for environment are voices of healthy water creatures.
Snake expert Gururaj Sanil said that we are destroying creatures due to lack of knowledge. “All the water bodies including snakes can be saved if we get rid of superstitions and dirty beliefs.”
Mysuru’s expert in forest creatures, S S Sunil, birds expert Shivashanker Manjunath, college principal Dr M G Vijay, Nirmithi center project director Arun Kumar were present. College journalism department professor Suchith Kotian compered the programme.