Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (DV)

Mangaluru, Dec 11: Environment activist C Yathiraj of Western Ghats Conservation Forum on Friday December 11 said that the Karnataka Neeravari Nigam Ltd (KNNL) has been misleading the National Green Tribunal (NGT) court and the general public on the issue of Yettinahole project, and that the entire project was based on lies.

Addressing a press meet here, Yathiraj said, "KNNL is misleading the NGT court and the general public by giving false information on project. The government has failed to follow the Forest Conservation Act, the Environment Protection Act and Wildlife Protection Act, and it is violating the law by starting the project without environment clearance. The government is thus conveying a wrong message to the people.

"Facts have been twisted and rules, regulations and policies flouted for political gains. We demand the ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) not to give clearance to the project. The entire project is based on falsehood and lies. There is no clarity at all. This is not a drinking water project but it is to rejuvenate 3 to 7 tributaries," he said..

K N Somashekar, another petitioner in the case against Yettinahole project, said, "KNNL officers have fooled the public by not providing adequate information about the project on their website. This was brought to the notice of the Tribunal, and only then, on December 8, were documents created and the project details uploaded in the website. As per the information obtained through RTI, 527 irrigation projects in Karnataka have failed and crores and crores of money has been wasted. Now, KNNL chief officer has given an undertaking in the NGT court stating that work on the project will not be carried out till MoEF clearance is obtained, and the court has made him liable."

When a reporter pointed out that the court had given such directions twice earlier and both times they were violated, and what would be the next step if the court order was violated again, he said, "We will file a contempt of court petition. It is not so easy to complete this project. There are many steps, and the first two steps are the most crucial. First, they have to involve the district forest officer, check feasibility and water availibility reports and the DC should give reports on forest rights and acquisitions, and there are other various procedures. These have not been done. In the second stage, compensation should be provided to people who have lost lands and the displaced should be rehabilitated. They cannot complete the project so easily. Now the government's strategy is to threaten the officials or lure them with money.

"On December 18, there will be a meeting with the MoEF, but activists have been invited. It is said to be a confidential meeting. If the project is transperant, what is the need for a confidential meeting? This project is built on lies. There is no proper design, they do not know how to lift the water nor is there any methodology to pump the water," Somashekar said.

In another press meet on the same issue, Dr Niranjan Rai, president of Netravati Samrakshana Okkuta informed that a protest would be held against the project on December 15 at BC Road in Bantwal.

"On December 15 we will gherao the taluk office at BC Road. A procession will start from Polali entrance from 9.30 am and reach the taluk office by 10.30 am," he said.

Criticizing MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, he said,"The MP has not taken any concrete step to get the Yettinahole project dropped. We strongly condemn this. It is not enough to hold press meets alone. It is also important to convince the union ministers and tell them about the ground reality and the violation taking place here. The union government should not give clearance to the project."

He also lamented that district in-charge minister Ramanath Rai has been silent on the issue. "The district in-charge minister is silent on this issue. He has turned a blind eye. When he is asked about it, he says he cannot comment as he is part of the government. In democracy, even people are part of the government.

Activist Dinesh Holla of Sahyadri Sanchaya said, "The BJP is silent on K S Eshwarappa's statement in support of the project. None of the BJP leaders has condemned it. We urge the public to join our protest.

"If Eshwarappa comes to Mangaluru, we will show him black flags. In future we will hold protests in front of offices of ministers U T Khader and Ramanath Rai too. We have submitted memorandums thrice but have not got any response from the people's representatives," he added.