The Hindu

• Check dams is a better option

Mangalore, Jul 3: Leaders in the Dakshina Kannada unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have opposed any proposal to divert the river Netravati.

Of the nine Assembly constituencies in the district, the BJP is holding power in seven constituencies including Mangalore, Udupi and Chikmagalur Lok Sabha constituencies that include areas under Dakshina Kannada also. Though the party is a partner in the coalition government, its leaders in the district do not agree with any proposal to divert the river Netravati.

K Nitin Kumar, vice-president of the district unit, told The Hindu, “We have been opposing this proposal since beginning. We continue to oppose it. There is no change in our stand though we are a partner in the Government.” Kumar said the Netravati is the lifeline of Dakshina Kannada. Any move to divert her would affect the people and agriculture in the district.

K Prabhakar Bangera, Beltangady MLA, said the idea of diverting the Netravati is not clear. There are many grey areas that needed answer. Even if the excess water in the river during rainy season was to be diverted, check dams might have to be built in the Western Ghats. It involves issues related to digging of channels and destruction of forest, he said.

Water recedes

He said water in the Netravati recedes in December. It is evident that farmers on the banks of the river face crisis in April and May. He was opposing any plan to divert the river as it is the lifeline of the people of Dakshina Kannada.

B Nagaraja Shetty, minister in-charge of Dakshina Kannada and Minister for port and fisheries, while interacting with presspersons in Bangalore on Thursday also opposed the diversion project.

The viability of this project could be considered only if there is excess water in the river. Instead, linking of west flowing rivers in Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Uttara Kannada districts could be considered. Check dams could be built to prevent excess water flowing to the sea, he said.

N Yogish Bhat, Mangalore MLA, has also mooted the idea of building check dams.