Pics: Ramesh Pandith
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (JS)
Mangaluru, Oct 3: Senior Congress leader Janardhan Poojary on Saturday October 3 said that he has met Congress president Sonia Gandhi to apprise her about the adverse impact of the Yettinahole Drinking Water Project, and that the party high command has directed that the issue should be discussed in detail with Poojary.
Addressing a press meet at the district Congress office here, Poojary said, "I had gone to Delhi to meet Sonia Gandhi and I spoke to her about the Yettinahole project and explained its cons. She was surprised and asked me to get all the details, so I wrote her a letter with details about all aspects of the project. I also mentioned the injustice being done to the people of Tumakuru, Kolar and Bengaluru and other districts.
"On Thursday October 1 at around 12 noon, I got a call from Sonia Gandhi's political secretary Ahmed Patel who asked me if he had got a call from chief minister Siddaramaiah or water resources minister M B Patil. I said I hadn't. Ahmed Patel said that the high command has directed that the issue should be discussed with me," he said.
"I do not know if the CM has got time to call me. So far I have not received any call from him. When I explained the whole scenario, Sonia Gandhi understood the seriousness of the matter," he added.
"What I want to say to the CM is he should look into the report prepared by the central environment department, which clearly states the extent of loss which would occur on the coastal belt if this project continues. The ecology department is based in Bengaluru, hence the CM should hold a meeting and discuss this issue if he is really sincere. Let him keep an hour out of his schedule for this discussion. People of Chikkaballapur, Kolar and Tumakuru and other beneficiaries of this project are also Kannadigas. Not only are the coastal people being cheated, but also people of that region. People of neither sides should be cheated," he said.
"We understand that it is the CM's responsibility to provide water, but the government should find a permanent, workable solution. I do not think the forest department of Karnataka has understood the seriousness of the damage that the project would cause. We will also fight along with the people of Kolar region for a permanent solution to their drinking water problem. Political will is required to stop this project and find a permanent solution. I urge the CM not to act like Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP who cheat people with false promises," Poojary added.
"MP of Udupi-Chikkamagaluru Shobha Karandlaje gave a statement in Udupi supporting the project. Within a few hours, she made a u-turn in Puttur. Former chief minister Yeddyurappa, being MP of Byndoor, is also a representative of the coastal region," he said.
Referring to the Mahadayi river project, he said, "Everyone including D V Sadananda Gowda, the chief minister Siddaramaiah and opposition leader of the parliament Mallikarjuna Kharge met the PM regarding the project, but what did he do? The Mahadayi project is not only for Karnataka, but Goa and Maharashtra are also involved in this. From so many days farmers are protesting on the streets. This is an inter-state issue. Usually CMs are called to solve inter-state issues, but in this case, the PM has called opposition leaders. What is wrong with him? And this, despite the fact that Goa and Maharashtra has BJP CMs."
Coming back to the Yettinahole issue, Poojary also hit out at union law minister Sadananda Gowda (DVS). "Sadananda Gowda does not understand the seriousness of the matter. He only understands about his son. I know why he has taken up law ministry, but I will not open my mouth. You (DVS) are cheating the people of the coastal region," he said, adding 'there is another one from our own party who was the former chief minister' without naming Veerappa Moily.
"People of coastal region will not cheat the people of Kolar and other districts, but these people are trying to make Dakshina Kannada another Kolar in terms of water scarcity. The alternative is not important. Everyone understands the adverse impact of this project, right from children to the elderly, but the state government does not."
Targetting MP Nalin Kumar next, he said, "The MP of this region is conducting a rally to protest against the project. What kind of rally is it? He should instead go to Delhi taking all other MPs along and ask the PM to stop this project. Didn't I go to Delhi? The MP has to meet everyone possible, the PM, the environment misnter, water resources minister and others. This is a question of the survival of the people of this region."
Addressing himself to PM Modi and other BJP leaders, he said, "Modi, power is not permanent. Sadananda Gowda, Venkaiah Naidu, Ananth Kumar - you are not going to be in power permanently, including the CM. Other than the people and the media, none of you is able to understand the seriousness of this issue. The MP should lead a rally to Delhi. Then we will trust his sincerity."
When asked why he was pointing fingers at the centre, he said only the central government could stop this project now.
Asked why he was not taking out a rally in protest against the project, Poojary said, "I will not trouble the people. If I was the MP, I would have gone to the PM and everyone concerned to ensure that the project was stopped."
He also released a copy of the letter on Yettinahole project he wrote to Sonia Gandhi.
Harikrishna Bantwal and others were present.