Mangaluru: Irked over the recent statement by Dakshina Kannada District In-charge Minister U T Khader on Yettinahole project, the environmentalists of the district have invited Khader and the officials of Karnataka Neeravari Nigam Ltd (KNNL) for an open debate on the issue.
Khader, in a press conference on Sunday, May 19, had opined that the shortage of pre-monsoon rain in summer was the root cause for the acute shortage of drinking water in district denying Yettinahole Project’s role in. He also justified that Yettinahole Project was undertaken only after collecting the opinions of experts, in order to provide water to the residents of parched areas. Khader refused to answer properly when the reporters asked him what was the necessity to undertake the Yettinahole project, the Dakshina Kannada district has been declared the drought-hit district.
After Khader’s statement was published in all the media sections, the irked environmentalists invited Khader and the officials of KNNL for an open debate.
Environmentalist and convener of Sahyadri Sanchaya, Dinesh Holla informed through social media that all the environmentalists would furnish proper documents to prove that Yettinahole Project is the root cause for the existing drought-like situation in Dakshina Kannada district. In order to execute the project, thousands of trees were felled and the Western Ghat was destroyed. Hence, the district is facing acute shortage of drinking water. We are ready to substantiate our allegation through proper documents.”
He also alleged that politicians were favouring Yettinahole Project only to receive commission and that it would not fetch drinking water to the parched areas.
