Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Mar 10: Congress leader, Bondala Jagannath Shetty, has urged Dakshina Kannada district in-charge minister, Krishna J Palemar, to break his silence on the issue of Netravati River diversion project of the state government and clarify his stand. He has drawn the attention of the minister to a statement made by water resources minister, Basavaraj Bommai, that works on this project will begin soon, by making use of Rs 200 crore set aside in the budget.

Bondala added that over the years, experts, leaders, and organizations have been opposing this project as it poses the risk of turning River Netravati, the lifeline of Dakshina Kannada district, dry, and emptying other water resources in the district. Pointing out that in a number of areas within the district, the people are suffering from drinking water scarcity even now, he feared that more people will be in distress, if the government goes ahead with the plan of feeding central Karnataka and Kolar district out of the water drawn from River Netravati.

He welcomed the proposal of the state government to convert Bangalore-Ramanagar-Mysore-Kodagu-Mangalore state highway into national highway, but alerted the government to the lackadaisical handling of the road development works by Karnataka Road Development Corporation Ltd between Mani and Madikeri. He wanted to know how the government proposes to approach the centre to take over the road as national highway, without even completing the widening work. He wanted proper reaction of the district in-charge minister on this issue too.