Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (DV)

Mangaluru, Jan 9: Senior Congress leader Janardhan Poojary on Saturday January 9 said that chief minister Siddaramaiah should appoint an enquiry commission headed by a Supreme Court judge to look into the alleged irregularities in the controversial Yettinahole project.

Addressing a press meet at the district Congress office here, Poojary said, "CM Siddaramaiah should appoint a commission of enquiry headed by a Supreme Court judge on Yettinahole project so that the truth comes out before the people.

"Advocate general representing the state government said that as per the Green Tribunal order, work can continue on the project at all places except on one hectare, but the advocate representing the activists states that there is one more hearing on January 27, and only on that day the court would decide. Now the question is whom to believe?

"There is fraud happening in this project. There has been forgery punishable under IPC section 463, false statement punishable under IPC 464, forgery for purpose of cheating punishable under IPC 468 and criminal breach of trust - and all these offences have been committed by officers and experts and even the CM is being misled by them. People of both Dakshina Kannada and Kolar have been betrayed," he alleged.

"The CM should find a solution to this issue and thus create history not only in the state but in the nation too. It is the chief minister's duty to sort out all doubts, and if he does not do so, people will not forgive him," he added.

"Engineers have give wrong rainfall data taking Panemangalore as the catchment area. Did the officers create false documents to fool the people? All these doubts should be cleared. The DC too has a responsibility to send a report to the union government. People are living in anxiety as they have been kept in the dark regarding this project. Hence a commission of enquiry should be formed," Poojary said.

Attacking union law minister D V Sadananda Gowda, he said, "When Sadananda Gowda sanctioned this project, why did he not study it thoroughly? Where was his intelligence then? Rs 13,000 crore that will go into it is people's money.

"The role of two former chief ministers (Sadananda Gowda and Veerappa Moily) in the project as well as which contractors are involved should come out. How can they say 24 TMC of water can be availed? Who measured it and where? Who are they fooling?" he said.

Addressing himself to Sadananda Gowda, he said, "You are the law minister and the other person (Moily) was former law minister and you are both going to completely destroy the coastal region. Already Rs 1,540 crore has been spent on it. There are many projects in Karnataka - why they are not progressing at the same speed?

"This is a golden opportunity for the chief minister to prove that there is transperancy in the project and solve the issue. All those who are involved in illegalities in the project should go to jail. We are with you (CM)," he added.

Asked if would join the anti-Yettinahole project struggle with other activists, he said, "Conducting press meets is also a kind of struggle. I am the only one who speaks against the party (Congress) so that the truth is out. Is there anyone else who goes against his own party to speak the truth? So this is also a kind of struggle."