Pics: Savitha B R
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Apr 12: The quarterly Dakshina Kannada district meeting under Karnataka Development Programme (KDP), which was held on Monday April 11, passed a resolution against the implementation of Netravati Diversion Plan. It has urged the state government to shelve the plan, pointing out that it will be detrimental to the interests of the district.

The KDP meeting was presided over by the district in-charge minister, Krishna J Palemar.

MLC, Kota Srinivas Poojary, who raised the topic, said that the river diversion plan, which is under evaluation stage, will adversely affect Dakshina Kannada district. He said that the government should be convinced of this fact, and pressure should be brought to ensure that the it does go ahead with the plan. MLAs, Abhayachandra Jain, and U T Khader, supported Poojary. They said that a conspiracy to implement the plan by giving it a different name has been hatched. Pointing out that River Netravati is the lifeline of the district, they felt that the district will have to face irreversible adverse consequences because of the plan, and favoured constitution of a committee of experts to conduct an in-depth study of the after effects of the plan.

Palemar too supported the members, and revealed that this matter had been brought to the notice of the Chief Minister, and that the latter has promised to conduct a detailed study into the issue. He suggested for passing of a resolution opposing the scheme, and sending the same to the state government.

U T Khader, Abhayachandra Jain and Kota Srinivas Poojary also urged for granting of a three-month holiday for implementation of the new sand mining policy, as buildings and other works are getting stranded because of shortage of sand. Palemar said that the coastal districts were exempted from the purview of the new policy, and claimed that at the time issuing the final order, the same had been left out by mistake. Explaining that petitions have been handed over to the union environment minister, Jairam Ramesh, and law minister, Veerappa Moily, to exempt Karnataka coast from the provision of Coastal Regulatory Zone rules and such other issues, he added that Moily has convened a meeting for discussing all the issues at Bangalore on Tuesday.

District deputy commissioner, Subodh Yadav, said that the district administration does not want to create problems for the people. He hastened to add that the district administration has been given the responsibility of implementation of the policy in force and hence it has no other go but to act against those who flout the rules.

Palemar asked the deputy commissioner to keep a watch on organizations which house children without getting themselves registered. He informed that the time for their registration has been extended to April 30.

Zilla panchayat president, Shylaja Bhat, vice-president, Dhanalakshmi, and district superintendent of police, Labhu Ram, were present.