Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)
Mangaluru, Nov 8: Under the aegis of Netravati Samrakshana Samyukta Samiti, a Rath Yatra will be undertaken from December 3 to 5 in Dakshina Kannada district to spread awareness on ills of Yettinahole project. This will be an apolitical programme supported by all the parties. The programme will be titled 'Panchateertha-Saptakshetra', and all organizations, institutions and people from the district will be supporting the initiative, said MP, Nalin Kumar Kateel, who will be heading this programme.
He was speaking at a meeting organized in the city on Monday November 7. President of the Samiti, Vijay Kumar Shetty, presided over the meeting.
Kateel accused the chief minister of failing to convene a meeting for open discussions on advantages and ills of the said project in spite of being approached repeatedly for the purpose since the last two years. "Because of this attitude, I have not been personally attending government meetings convened by the chief minister. I am prepared to take part in any agitation that may be organized against Yettinahole project," he announced. He warned of giving the agitation the shape of revolution on January 26 if the government continues to neglect demand for holding meeting on this issue, reminding the chief minister that he has enough time at his disposal to hold such a meeting.
Adviser of the Samiti, M G Hegde, former MLA, Yogish Bhat, and Dinakar Shetty also spoke on the occasion.
Legal adviser against the project, V V Bhat, wanted the agitation to be taken up on the lines of anti Bedti project. He said that the state government has secretly formed some committees to think of alternatives if Yettinahole project fails to generate water as expected.
Organizer, Devadas Shetty, provided details of route through which the Rath Yatra will move from December 3, beginning at 1.30 pm from Subrahmnya temple. It will move via Nelyady, Dharmasthala, Ujire, Beltangady, Uppinangady, Kalladka, B C Road, Polali Farangipet, Kadri, Suratkal, Pavanje, Bappanadu, and end at 6.30 pm on December 5 at Kateel. On the way public meetings will be held at Nelyady, Uppinangady, Kalladka, B C Road, Farangipet, Mulky, Bappanadu and Kinnigoly. Water from the holy rivers which the Rath Yatra touches on the way will be collected in pitchers.
BJP district president, Sanjeeva Matandoor, former minister, Nagaraja Shetty, former MLAs, Jayaram Shetty and Monappa Bhandary, former mayor, Purushotham Chitrapuura, Satyajit Suratkal and others were present.