Mangaluru, Aug 28: Strongly objecting to the ongoing construction of the Nethravati river diversion or Yettinahole project despite public opposition, Tulunada Rakshana Vedike (TRV), Dakshina Kannada on Friday announced its complete support to organisations opposing the disastrous project.
Speaking at a press conference here on Friday, founder president of the Vedike Yogeesh Shetty told mediapersons that the state government’s decision to proceed with the Yettinahole project was condemning, and the Vedike was prepared to fight against this.
‘Will pray for punishment of involved politicians’
“In this direction, members of the organisation will offer prayers that the project should be shelved and that the concerned elected representatives and officials should be punished for making money through the project and lying to the public.
We will offer our earnest prayers in this regard by conducting a pooja at Mangaladevi Temple in Bolar at 11 a.m. on Monday and thereafter proceed towards Hazrath Saidani Bibi Dargah and Rosario Church in Pandeshwar at 12 p.m. to offer our prayers at these places of worship,” he said.
Awareness on impact of Yettinahole project
He said that members of the Vedike would organise a padayatra covering prime locations of the city on September 3 at 11 a.m. and distribute pamphlets to create awareness among people on the destructive consequences of the project.
“Likewise, a district-wide vehicle awareness rally will be organised on September 18 towards intensifying our struggle against Yettinahole project,” he said, adding that the Vedike would support the call for blockade of National Highway at Uppinangady on September 15.
‘Convene a meeting, else face indefinite bandh’
Vedike advisor M G Hegde said that the Vedike would also give a call for boycotting colleges in the coming days if the state government of Karnataka did not convene a meeting in Dakshina Kannada to deliberate the catastrophic effects of the project.
“It is clear that the Yettinahole is a ‘bogus’ project when there is no sufficient water necessary to fully implement the project. Mangaluru has been shortlisted as one of the ‘Smart Cities’ by the NDA government, but how is it possible to have a ‘Smart City’ without 24/7 water supply in the city? Apart from laying pipes over long stretches, the government will be unable to generate water for Dakshina Kannada. The entire project will be a failure since it is unscientific,” he said.
Giving an ultimatum to the state government, Mr Hegde said that if the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and district in-charge minister Ramanath Rai did not convene a district-level meeting in Dakshina Kannada within 15 days, the Vedike would step up their offensive against the project and resort to indefinite bandh in teh district.
He also challenged Dharmadhikari of Dharmasthala Dr Veerendra Heggade to make arrangements to facilitate a meeting to debate the pros and cons of the Yettinahole project.
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