Mangaluru: Yettinahole Integrated Drinking Water Project, one of the flagship projects of Krishna Neeravari Nigam Ltd. (KNNL) designed to quench the thirst of nearly 7 million people; it however, faces strong opposition from the environmentalist and a section of people in the district.
In the past few days after the media has taken up the issue, a series of views were given out by the political leaders from the region.
J R Lobo now suggests taking people’s approval
On August 31, addressing a press meet, Lobo said that only the people of Dakshina Kannada can decide and hence the State government needs to take the people into confidence.
It has been 4 years since the project has been under the wings of Congress. However, J R Lobo only recently demanded the government to prepare a detailed study report on the project by experts.
He said, “If the project will affect the Western Ghats it should be opposed.
“In a meeting of MLAs and ministers from the undivided Dakshina Kannada convened by the Chief Minister, I had made my stand clear. I had asked the government to tell the people of Dakshina Kannada clearly about how exactly the project would be carried out and whether it would affect them or the environment.
“As a representative, I cannot go against the govt”, says Khader
Providing acceptance to the project, UT Khader questioned as to while the project was passed under the BJP rule when Sadananda Gowda was the chief minister and a green signal from the entire assembly was given and the project went ahead, why is there a problem now.
When a series of questions were posed, Khader simply said that as a representative, he cannot go against the government. However, he will inform the district-in-charge minister about all these issues and also the irrigation minister regarding public hearing in Dakshina Kannada.
In conclusion, he said that the government is keen to finish the project.
Janardhan Poojary: Yettinahole project is a failure
Contrasting over the views of other Congress and State government representatives, Senior Congress leader and former union minister Janardhan Poojary said that he stands against the project as it would harm the environment and kill the livelihood of the region.
He said, “Netravati is an important river of this district and diverting its rivulets will kill the main river. Such experiments have been done in other parts of the country and the world and failed.”
BJP opposition call project unscientific:
MLC Capt Ganesh Karnik stated that BJP condemns the Yettinahole project.
“The Yettinahole project will be harmful to the coastal region. The project is unscientific and against the will of the coastal people. BJP strongly condemns the government’s move in starting this project,” Karnik said.
