Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Nov 24: Prof S G Mayya, a leading activist of Netravati Rakshana Samiti, alleged that Karnataka Neeravari Nigam Ltd (KNNL) has been making efforts to mislead National Green Tribunal on the issue of Yettinahole project, which aims at providing drinking water to water-starved districts located on the other side of the Western Ghats.

Addressing a press conference here on Monday November 23, he accused KNNL of keeping the people in the dark about the gamut of the project, and now making efforts to mislead National Green Tribunal. He said that advocates representing KNNL falsely claimed the project to be linear, duly arguing that linear projects do not need clearance from the ministry of environment and forests. He said that the south zone bench of the tribunal disagreed with the above arguments and desisted from granting permission to go ahead with works.

He said that advocate, Ashok Devaraj, who was designated to place arguments on behalf of the government, remained absent during the hearing, and no reports were tabled although Wildlife Authority and Bio-diversity Authority were named as respondents in the case, as these reports will blunt the government's arguments. He said that the concerned have not so far come up with clarification whether water which flows through canals is potable.

He also charged KNNL of falsely stating that no stay has been granted, and continuing with irrigation works in project area.

Leader of the Samiti and city deputy mayor,Purushotham Chitrapur, fishermen's leader,Kumar Mendon, Dinakar Shetty of the Samiti, Uttam Alva, and some others were present.