Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (MD)
Mangaluru, Oct 3: The district BJP led by MP Nalin Kumar Kateel will hold a padayatra in protest against the controversial Yettinahole Integrated Drinking Water Project on October 10, said BJP district president K Pratapsimha Nayak.
Addressing a press meet in the presence of MP Nalin Kateel at the BJP office here on Saturday October 3, Nayak said, "The padayatra will be held under the leadership of MP Nalin Kumar Kateel under the slogans 'Save Netravati, Save Dakshina Kannada' and 'Step towards Yettinahole' on October 10 morning from Brahma Baidarkala Garodi, Koti Chennaya Pilgrim center, Kankanady and culminate on October 13 at Yettinahole area with a massive protest."
When mediapersons asked if it was possible for MP Nalin Kumar Kateel to stop the Yettinahole project by holding the padyatra and if there was any response to the letter he had written to the central ministers to stop the project, Nalin Kateel laid three points in front of the media:
"First, being an MP, it is my duty to help the people and in this case I am trying to spread awareness among the people regarding the problems we are going to face in the future. The state government has promised to provide 24 TMC of water, but the water available is not more than 4 TMC. The detailed project report (DPR) has lots of mistakes. The state government is just feeding ghee to the Kolar people. Kolar people should visit Yettinahole and see the truth.
"Secondly, it is everybody's duty to alert the state government that the project is not feasible. The government before starting the project has not taken the feedbacks of the people of Dakshina Kannada district. Last time the interaction meet was not done in a proper manner and thereafter I had given them time to the officials to hold another interaction with the people of Dakshina Kannada, where the government could bring technical experts to clear doubts regarding the project.
"Third, as an MP of Dakshina Kannada, my protest does not end after the padyatra. Parliament session will be held in the coming days and I will raise this issue inside and outside the Parliament. I will do whatever is possible through the central government. We are going to form three teams. Technical team, a team to fight for the issue legally and a team to spread awareness among the people," the MP explained.
"If not even 4 TMC water can be provided to Kolar, then what is the point in continuing the expensive Rs 13,000-crore project? We will bring technical experts from our side, let the government bring theirs and chalk out a new and better plan to provide water to other districts. The Green Tribunal has already ordered the government to stop all the work but the state is still continuing with it," Nalin Kateel said.
When reporters asked why he had not opposed the approval of the project when his party was in power in the state, Nalin said, "MPs have no right to speak in the state assembly. The state has not asked permission for the project from the centre and as well as from the central forest department. But who laid the foundation for the project? Who implimented the project in a hurry? The previous government had brought out many schemes for the Karnataka people. Ban on cow slaughter was lifted and other schemes stopped by the present government soon after it came to power. So why is it not possible for the government to stop the Yettinahole project? Let the state government hold an interaction with the people in Mangaluru itself and not in Bengaluru. The meeting should be held before the padayatra.
"No matter who protests against the Yettinahole project, I will support them and earlier too I have supported various organisations. Let the state government stop the Yettinahole project and let them utilise sea water. Let them follow in the footstpes of Gulf countries. Other countries use machinaries to purify the sea water and convert it into drinking water," he said.
Asked if he was ready to hold padayatra independently without the banner of BJP, he said, The padyatra is to spread awarenessd among the people and it is being undertaken by the opposition party of the state. It is time for the state government to feel the heat from us."
When a reporter asked what the BJP would do if the district administration calls for a public meeting on the project on the same day and time as the padayatra, the way it was the last time when protesting organizations had convened a meeting with elected representatives, the MP said, "We will complete the padyatra first and then join in the interaction."
MLC Capt Ganesh Karnik, Divakar Samani, Krishna J Palemar, Satish Kumpala, Ravishankar Mijar and others were also present.