Mangalore: Massive rally demands withdrawal of Yettinahole project
Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SS)
Mangalore, Oct 2: A massive rally was organized from Jyothi circle to DC's office here on Wednesday October 2 against the proposed Yettinahole project, urging the government to withdraw plans to divert the Netravati river.
The main organizers of the rally were Karavali Yuva Sinchana, Vanya Charana Balaga and Rotary Club of Mangalore.
The rally was supported by Nurture Nature Club of School of Social Work, Roshni Nilaya, St Aloysius College, Karavali Chitra Kala Chavadi, Kudremukh Wildlife Foundation, Meredian College, Youth Hostel Association Mangalore unit, All College Association, Aam Aadmi Party (DK), Netravati Samrakshana Samiti, Malenadu students' association, RX Life, Lions Club, Arya Hola Pratishthana, Gokulnath college, photographers' association of Mangalore and others.
Addressing the gathering, Kishore Kumar from Malenadu Janapara Horata Samiti said, “We are not against providing water to the other parts of Karnataka, but we are against the diversion of Netravati river that would affect the ecological habitats and the environment.”
“The estimated cost of the project is said to be Rs 20,000 crore and around 325 watt electricity would be used to lift the water for the diversion. Such a lot of waste of resources must be taken into consideration," he added.
He also said, “The corrupt officials are making money out of this project and Yettinahole project is only initiated in the name of vote bank.”
He also informed that a memorandum has been submitted to chief minister Siddaramaiah to discard the Yettinahole project and stop the diversion of Netravati river.
The protestors pointed out that according to Kudremukh wildlife foundation, under the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 the diversion of the river would be hazardous to the wild life. "Even if this project is discarded no other electricity project should be initiated in the area in future; there must be an approval from the environmental department before initiating any such project and as Netravati depends on rainfall, the diversion has to be stopped," they said.
Niranjan Rai from Save Netravati committee (Uppinangady), Sunder Rao from Save Netravati committee (BC Road), Srisha Kumar Save Netravati committee (Puttur), Niren Jain, coordinator of Kudremukh Wildlife Foundation, Dinesh Holla of Vanya Charana Balaga, Madhav Ullal, Girish and other were present.
Protest in Uppinangady
Arun Uppinangady
Daijiworld Media Network – Puttur (EP)
Puttur, Oct 2: Politicians who were not interested when lakes spread all over Kolar had dried up, are cheating people by intending to convert Dakshina Kannada as a draught region, said Prof Rohinaksha Shirlalu.
He was speaking at a protest meeting held by building and other contractors against Netravathi river diversion project held on Tuesday October 1 at Uppinangady.
"The project involving thousands of crores of rupees is meant to fill the pockets of politicians. The politicians seem to be determined in the project. So large scale massive protests are required to prevent them from going ahead with it," he said.
"District incharge minister Ramanath Rai, who was against it, is now saying that it has gone beyond his control. This shows that we have to observe the steps of politicians carefully," he said.
Jayarama Nellitaya, director of Sri Kshetra Dharmastala community development programme, said that if the river is diverted, it will lead to natural disasters as the river will dry up and the district will have to face drought. He praised the protest of building workers in this regard.
Senior veterinary doctor Dr K M Krishana said that the river diversion project which will make the region lifeless.
Several building workers including women participated in the protest. Association president Manohar Shetty, secretary Mahalinga and several leaders submitted a report to the government. An appeal was sent to the governor through the tahsildar on the occasion.
The protest meeting started after garlanding the statue of Mahatma Gandhi at Uppinangady Gandhi park. A procession was also taken on the occasion.
Lokesh Bethodi conducted the programme. Jayantha Puroli, Kailarajagopal Bhat, Dr Niranjan Rai, Karunakar Suvarna, Kangai Vishwanatha Shetty, Seetharama Acharya, Yunis Rehman, Aboobakker Niha, Sunil Daddu and others were present.
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