Mangaluru, Oct 17: The Detailed Project Report (DPR) prepared for Yettinahole project by Karnataka Neeravari Nigam Limited is a Document for Pro Rich based on miscalculations and assumptions of convenience. The government is trying to divide the people by making misleading statements, said Dr TV Ramachandra, professor at Energy and Wetlands Research Group, Centre for Ecological Sciences (CES) at Indian Institute of Science.
Delivering a talk on 'Yettinahole Project - A Scientific Survey' organised by Citizen's Council, Mangaluru Chapter at Sanghaniketan in Mannagudda here on Friday, he said that the DPR had been based on the assumption that the catchment area of the Nethravati river received an annual rainfall of over 6,000 mm. However, according to official statistics, no area in the catchment area received more than 4,500 mm of rainfall annually. The bureaucrats are misleading the people of the state using the divide and rule policy, he said.
He said that Kolar district received an average rainfall of 744 mm while Chikkaballapur received 756 mm rainfall annually. Both the districts have sufficient amount of yield (over 50 TMC yield). If the rainwater is harvested properly, there is no need for diversion of Nethravati river to supply 5 TMC of water, he pointed.
Dr Ramachandra reiterated that there was only 9.55 TMC water available in Nethravati river, out of which, around 5.86 TMC was required for people in the catchment area (domestic, livestock and irrigation) and there was not enough water available for diversion to other districts.
The hydrology expert, with over 600 research publications, also pointed out that the forest cover in Gundia river basin had drastically decreasef from 70.74 percent in December 2000 to 61.15 percent in December 2014.
Harvesting of rainwater and other water resources is the best way to replenish underground water table and rejuvenate lakes and rivers, he told the gathering.
'National and state water policy required'
Well known environmentalist and vice president of Tumkur Science Centre C Yathiraju said that a national water policy and an identical state water policy was required based on scientific study and survey, to conserve and control the usage of our water resources in the country.
He said that human beings were creating a disaster for themselves by polluting water resources in their respective areas. There is no contemplation on the usage of water resources by people. The government has made no efforts to ensure proper water management. Utmost importance should be given to conservation of existing water resources such as lakes and rivers and save them from contamination and pollution, he said, pointing that there was no synergy between the government and environment.
The government and politicians are trying to loot vast amounts of public money in the name of different developmental projects. It is an untolerable thing that the government is implementing the Yettinahole project solely for political gain without conducting a deliberation on its adverse effects, he said.
He also said that the Karnataka Neeravari Nigam Limited (KNNL) had taken an undertaking with the National Green Tribunal that work on the Yettinahole project would not be continued without a social impact assessment. Yet, the governmental body had not stopped work on the project, he said, adding that the KNNL was trying to mislead the National Green Tribunal.
Also Read: Scientist exposes Yettinahole project, says it is meant to benefit bureaucrats
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