Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Nov 23: A group of motor bike riders came together, duly driven by the slogan of 'shelve Yettinahole project - save Netravati' on Sunday November 22 and organized Bike Jatha to the site of Yettinahole project. 23 motor bike riders began their journey at 7.30 am on Sunday from Mangala Stadium in the city.

The jatha was flagged off by Dakshina Kannada MP, Nalin Kumar Kateel, and deputy mayor of the city, Purushotham Chitrapur. On this occasion, a collection of short poems written by Kasargod Ashok Kumar, titled 'Alutiruvalu Netravati (River Netravati shedding tears)', was released.

Kasturba Medical College Hospital had provided ambulance service for accompanying the jatha free of cost. Service of mechanic was also provided.

The jatha, after leaving the city, moved via B C Road, Uppinangady. and Shiradi. It surveyed the Yettinahole project area by moving around Maranahalli, Yettinahole, Heggadde, Yettinahalla and Hebbasale. Gopalakrishna Bhat, Purohit of Katyayani Math Mangaluru, who had accompanied the jatha, performed puja at Yettinahole, during praying to the divine powers to ensure that the project does not harm the coastal area in any way, river Netravati will continue to provide abundant water to Dakshina Kannada district, and that Tulunadu does not face any problems because of this project.

Thereafter, Dinesh Holla, who has been one of the leading personalities opposing the project under the banner of 'Sahyadri Sanchaya', offered 'Bagina' to the river. Prominent leaders like Konchadi Narasimha Shenoy, Rajendra Pai, and Kamalaksha Mallya led the bike jatha.