Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Nov 30: Yettinahole project, which several environmentalists feel will ring death-knell for the coastal area by depriving access to fresh water and causing harmful adverse affect on ecology, bio-diversity of western ghats and marine life, appears to have not been taken up seriously by colleges and universities in the region for scientific studies. At a time when these institutions have not undertaken any detailed study about the affects of this project, a student form Sweden came here, stayed in the city for four months, and prepared a paper.

The student, a research scholar from Sweden, identified as Stina Johansson, who conducted study about the advantages and shortcomings of Yettinahole project, has published a paper through the University of Gothenburg. Stina had visited Kerala about a year back to study environment. She already is conducting environmental studies at Sweden, and has plans to do similar studies in different countries.

During her Kerala visit, she had visited Bengaluru on some work, and came across an article on Yettinahole in a newspaper. After coming to know about the dispute surrounding the project, she came here, met representnatives of different organizations like Dinesh Holla, Sapna Noronha, Shashidhar Shetty etc who have been fighting against the execution of this project. During her stay here in a home at Kadri here, she undertook hiking in western ghats, visited area where Yettinahole project works are on, and checked the facts. She also studied the detailed project report prepared by the government. In her essay, she said she observed several protests against this project and gathered information from close quarters.

During her hike through western ghats, Stina, it is gathered, used to express sorrow at the way environment and ecology are being subjected to inhuman treatment. Dinesh Holla, who was part of some of her trips, says that she expressed dismay at the fact that estate mafia which has been destroying environment, goes Scot free in India even after indulging in destroying the environment.

Stina, who has immense interest in fight for environmental justice all over the world, has published her essay on Yettinahole project under this very head.