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Budget gives hopes to Yettinahole agitation


Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, March 19,2016 : A view is thrown up where the  Karnataka Budget brings hope to activists, agitating  against Yettinahole project, in Dakshina Kannada district.  Nethravati Rakshana Samyuktha Samiti (NRSS) convener M G Hegde reiterated  that though chief minister Siddaramaiah has made mention of the controversial project in his budget speech, he has not earmarked funds for it. This deeply indicates that the chief minister has become aware of the non-viability of the project. 


yettinahole


CM Siddaramaiah in his Budget speech said that a Coordination Committee will be constituted for the early and effective implementation of Yettinahole Integrated Drinking Water Project. A separate Corporation will be formed for Yettinahole and Upper Bhadra projects. Experts’ Committee will be constituted to study and report on the availability of water from other alternate sources along with Yettinahole project to provide permanent irrigation facility to drought prone areas of Chikkaballapur and Kolar districts. Hegde said,  significantly there is no mention of funds sanction for Yettinahole project in the Budget speech.

Samiti’s Hegde saidthat the fight against Yettinahole project will not be stopped until the government stops it. "The government is slowly realising a fact that Yettinahole project is not a viable one. They are also realizing that the project will not provide drinking water to people of Chikkaballapur and Kolar districts. The chief minister has made announcement that a coordination committee will be constituted and a separate corporation will be formed for Yettinahole project, but no mention of funds. In addition, the budget also seeks setting up of an experts’ committee to study and report on the availability of water from other alternate sources,"

"Our agitation will also be continued for the setting up of Nethravati Jala Samrakshana Pradhikara to protect the rights of people of Dakshina Kannada on river Nethravati," he said.