Sahyadri Samrakshana Sanchaya plans series of protests against Netravathi diversion

Sahyadri Samrakshana Sanchaya plans series of protests against Netravathi diversion

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Jan 2, 2013 : Dinesh Holla, President of Sahyadri Samrakshana Sanchaya  and Charana Balaga Okkuta has informed that the  Sanchaya will organise a series of protests and awareness campaigns to sensitize the public on the drastic consequences of the proposed Netravathi River Diversion Project.

Speaking to the media here on January 1, Wednesday, he said a day long hunger strike will be observed in front of the Deputy commissioner’s Office in Mangalore on January 10, while there will be a protest right in the Netravathi River in Uppinangady on January 24. He also informed that another protest will be held in Ullal on February 24.

 He said a short film named ‘Netravathi Ulisi’ prepared by his organisation will be screened in various educational institutions as part of the awareness campaign.

 Expressing his grave concern over the irreparable damage which the project would cause to the Western Ghats, Holla pointed out that Western Ghats has been harmed  over the past few years owing to various reasons.  Lesser rainfall is also drying up Netravathi, he said adding any project like the river diversion project would do more harm than good in the present circumstances.

He also accused both DK District in-charge Minister Ramanatha Rai and Union Petroleum Minister Veerappa Moily of cheating the people of the district by not trying to protect their interests. He further alleged that the project was being implemented with an eye on the vote bank in the wake of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

Girish Kumar, Swapna Noronha, MAdhav Ullal and others were present at the press meet.