Government has commercial interests in Yettinahole, says Yeddyurappa

Bengaluru, May 19: The BJP?on Wednesday blamed the Congress government for not taking the people of coastal region into confidence before taking up the Yethinahole project.

Speaking after a meeting to review the party organisation in Dakshina Kannada and Shivamogga, BJP state president B?S?Yeddyurappa accused the state government of having “commercial interest” in mind instead of “people's interest” in the Yethinahole project.

The BJP?is supporting a dawn-to-dusk bandh in Dakshina Kannada on Thursday in protest against “unanswered questions” like the feasibility of the project, its impact on people of coastal region and environment.

“The hush-hush manner in which the government has procured a large quantity of pipes without taking the people of coastal region into confidence speaks of the hidden commercial interest in the multi-crore project,” Yeddyurappa said.

The project aims to mitigate the drinking water problem in drought-prone Chikkaballapur, Kolar, Tumakuru and Bengaluru Rural districts by harnessing 24 tmcft from Yettinahole in Hassan district.

Yeddyurappa, at the same time, said his party “in principle” favour the project as it is in the interest of the larger section of society. He urged that the state government to hold talks with the people of coastal region who have genuine fears about the project before going ahead.