Nethravathi diversion will be a national disaster, warn experts

January 11, 2014

Mangalore, Jan 11: In retaliation against the stand of the Karnataka state government to move ahead with the proposed Yettinahole (Nethravathi diversion) project, few local activists have decided to oppose diverting the Nethravathi waters under the banner of 'Karavali Jeevanadi-Nethravathi Rakshana Samiti'.

The Samiti includes Congressmen Vijaykumar Shetty and P V Mohan, local activists M G Hegde, Vasudev Bolar and Rohitaksha Rai and others including Prof S G Mayya who is a professor of Department of Applied Mechanics and Hydraulics at NITK, Suratkal.

Addressing media persons at a press conference here on Friday, Prof Mayya said that the Yettinahole project would turn out to be a national disaster. A precise study of the forests, wildlife and ecology in Western Ghats has not been done. According to the Paramashivaiah report, the priority of the project is to provide water to the industrial area in Bangalore, then to certain parts of Tumkur, Hassan and Chikmagalur and finally to Kolar and Chikkaballapur. Moreover, the proposed project with an estimated budget of Rs 8,000 crores would be a burden and a waste of taxpayers' money as implementation of the project would not yield any results. The project is only for political gains and nothing else, he stressed.

M G Hegde said that people of Dakshina Kannada were being deceived with the guarantee of “conveyance of the extra water from Nethravathi which flows into the sea.” If this is true, why are they pumping water from the sources of the rivulets and not from the estuary? By trying to divert the river, they are going against the law of nature. This is a bogus project and will not benefit anyone except those who stand to gain from it financially, he said.

He said that the Samiti would organise a 'nadi pooja' on the banks of river Nethravathi on January 14 in Bantwal.

President of the Samiti Vijaykumar Shetty said, “It is saddening that despite several assurances from top state political leaders, the government has decided to go ahead with the project. Having lost hope in these assurances, we have decided to protest against this move of the government.”

He also said that the Samiti had decided to oppose the project in the High court.

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Heading to Karavali Utsava? Check traffic changes and parking rules in Mangaluru

News Network

December 20,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 20: The Mangaluru City Police have issued a detailed traffic advisory ahead of the inaugural ceremony of Karavali Utsava, which will be held at the Karavali Utsava Ground on Saturday.

The festival will be inaugurated at 6:00 pm by Dakshina Kannada District Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao. Cultural and public programmes will be held at the venue every evening and will continue until January 2.

According to City Police Commissioner Sudheer Kumar Reddy, parking of vehicles is strictly prohibited on both sides of the road from Lalbagh to Karavali Utsava Ground. Visitors are requested to park their vehicles only at designated parking areas.

To help the public, traffic signboards and parking guidance flex boards have been installed along the routes leading to the venue. The police have urged commuters and visitors to follow these instructions to ensure smooth traffic movement.

Designated Parking Locations

•   Urwa Market Ground – Cars
•   Gandhinagar Government School (near Press Club) – Two-wheelers and cars
•   Ladyhill Church parking area – Two-wheelers and cars
•   Canara School Ground, Mannagudda – Two-wheelers and cars
•   Thimmappa Hotel premises – Two-wheelers and cars
•   Scout and Guide Bhavana premises (behind Karavali Utsava Grounds) – Two-wheelers
•   Urwa Market Road – Two-wheelers
•   Hat Hill Road – Two-wheelers

The police have appealed to the public to cooperate by following traffic rules and parking guidelines to avoid inconvenience during the festival.

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Air India Express brings back Mangaluru–Muscat direct flights from March 2026

News Network

December 15,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 15: Air India Express has announced that it will resume direct flight services between Mangaluru and Muscat from March 2026, restoring an important international air link for passengers from the coastal region.

Airport authorities said the service will operate twice a week—on Sundays and Tuesdays—from March 1. The initial flights are scheduled on March 3, 8 and 10, followed by March 15 and 17, with the same operating pattern to continue thereafter. The flight duration is approximately three hours and 25 minutes.

The Mangaluru–Muscat route was earlier operated under the 2025 summer schedule, with services beginning on July 14. At that time, Air India Express had operated four flights a week before suspending the service.

Officials said the summer schedule will come into effect from March 29, after which changes in flight timings and departure schedules from Mangaluru are expected. Passengers have been advised to check the latest schedules while planning their travel.

The resumption of direct flights to Muscat is expected to significantly benefit expatriates, business travellers and others, further strengthening Mangaluru’s air connectivity with the Gulf region.

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