Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (JS)
Mangaluru, Mar 23: Senior Congress leader Janardhan Poojary on Wednesday March 23 lambasted union law minister and former Karnataka chief minister D V Sadananda Gowda for his recent statement on the Yettinahole project and said that if the project were to be implemented, it would result in a sharp decrease in the rainfall in the coastal region. He also questioned the chief minister as to why he was 'acting like Modi' on the issue of Anti-Corruption Bureau.
Sadananda Gowda had recently said that he was committed to the Yettinahole project, and that his governnment had approved it on humanitarian grounds after considering its pros and cons.
Addressing a press meet at the district Congress office, "It is sad that two former CMs D V Sadananda Gowda and Veerappa Moily approved the Yettinahole project without making a study of the climate and environment assessment report submitted by the union ministry of environment and forests. The report was based on a study amde by 120 organizations and 220 scientists in the country, and it was submitted to the union government and to the state environment and forest department. It is sad to know that the former CM (Sadananda Gowda) who has drank the water of Netravati river does not know about this report.
"The Western Ghats is a lifeline that gives water to the coastal region as well as to the whole country by joining different rivers. According to the report, if the project is implemented, it will create an adverse impact on the climatic conditions, like rain will decrease, the monsoon season will also decrease, and on the whole, there will be a decrease in rainfall by 15 percent. This clearly shows that both these former CMs have not made any study on the report," he said.
Addressing Moily and DVS, he said, "Where has your sense gone? Have you mortaged your senses, and if yes, to whom? Don't you know there will be a decrease in rain?
"People in the coastal region are already facing shortage of water. Have you met the people of the Kumaradhara banks in Uppinangady or read any reports in the paper? Have the centre or the state goverment made any efforts to harvest rainwater in ponds?" he said.
Referring to DVS again, Poojary said, "Have you discussed this climate assessment report in the central cabinet? This clearly shows you are doing drama. You said you had given nod for this project on humanitarian grounds. Don't you have such humanitarian concern for the people of the coastal region? A number of apartments are coming up, population is increasing and there is shortage of water in this region. At least now both state and central governments should wake up on this issue."
Criticizing chief minister Siddaramaiah on the state's Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), he said, "Why is the chief minister adamant on having ACB? He should withdraw it. I saw the CM's speech yesterday - why are you (CM) in such a hurry? You told the opposition BJP to make CBI an autonomous body and to enforce the Lokpal Bill at the centre. Your demand was right, but you have to be an example to the central government. Why are you acting like Modi? Your government has come to power in the state and you have become CM because of the fight against corruption. I humbly request you to take back the ACB. Don't fall in the pit in which the previous (BJP) government had fallen into."
Asked to comment on the Puttur temple invitation row, he said, "The law on temples in Karnataka is against the Constitution. Who will be responsible if something goes wrong tomorrow? It is SP and DC who control the district administration who are responsible. What will happen if the DC goes to temple - will god run away? God will judge the people who are creating controversy on the issue."
To a question on the letter reportedly written by BJP leaders to Congress president Sonia Gandhi and vice-president Rahul Gandhi on the issue of ACB, Poojary said, "Jagadish Shettar and other BJP leaders should write letters to the PM through Prahlad Joshi to make the CBI an autonomous body, instead of writing to Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi on ACB."