‘Stop Yettinahole project in 15 days or total face shutdown of DK’

Mangaluru, Sep 11: A 15 day ultimatum has been given to the Dakshina Kannada district administration and elected representatives in the district by Karavali Jeevanadi Nethravathi Rakshana Samithi to stop controversial Yettinahole project.

Addressing media persons here on Thursday Samithi Vice President M G Hegde warned of a total shutdown of the district for the second time if the deadline was ignored.

He said that National Green Tribunal’s Southern Bench in Chennai had accepted the application filed by Deputy Mayor Purushotham Chitrapur against the project and the next hearing would be held on September 28.

Along with the legal battle, more than 20 organisations are protesting the project. The agitation is taking a massive form as a lot of people are expected to take part in the protest, to be staged at Uppinangady, on September 15. All College Students Association has called for a college bandh on September 19.

“The entire district is for bandh. It is high time that district administration, MLAs, ministers and Dharmasthala Dharmadhikari Dr D Veerendra Heggade take a decision in this regard,” Hegde said.

“Ramanath Rai had challenged that if you have guts, call a press conference in Bengaluru. I don’t know his intention behind this challenge. Anyhow, we are ready to conduct a press conference in Bengaluru. The Minister can suggest the date and time,” he said.

The forum is not against any political party or person. Most of the people, irrespective of their party affiliations, have opposed the project.

People have elected Rai, Khader, Sorake and others with a lot of love, they have to understand this. This project cannot start without the acquisition of around 2,000 acres of land, but some contractors have bought the land for lease for 20 years from a few persons (landowners). This has created a lot of doubts, Hegde added.

In the name of drinking water, politicians are cheating both the people of Kolar and coastal Karnataka.

River Yettinahole doesn’t have 24 TMC of water as claimed. Further, additional water in?River Nethravathi is very important for the growth of fishes. There should be an open debate for a solution, he said.

Deputy Mayor Purushothama Chithrapura said that Mangaluru City Corporation was against the project and the issue would be discussed in the next pre-council meeting and a resolution would be passed in the next MCC general body meeting.

Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha Honorary president Rohitaksha Rai, Fishermen leader Vasudeva Boloor were present among others.