mangalore today

CM calls for meet on Yettinahole project in response to protests


Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Oct 20, 2015 : Following several protests and blocking national highway and agitations, chief minister Siddaramaiah has invited people’s representatives from Dakshina Kannada district, activists, experts and leaders of various organisations for a discussion on the Yettinahole project.


CM calls for meet on Yettinahole project A meet was to take place October 19, but it was postponed due to Dasara. DK DC  Adoor B Ibrahim has sent invitation notice for the meeting, which was scheduled to be held at the conference hall of Vidhan Soudha (No: 334).


The meeting notice was issued on October 15 when members of various organisations led by Nethravathi Nadi Samrakshana Okkoota (NNSO) blocked two national highways in the city. However, later the meeting date was postponed in the wake of Dasara festival.

Though the chief minister has decided to hold a meeting, Dakshina Kannada MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, who has held a padayatra from Mangaluru to Yettinahole opposing the project, said he will attend meeting only if the government stops the work. "Chief minister has convened a meeting and later postponed it. Our demand is that the government should stop all works related to the project immediately. Let them hold meeting after stopping work at Yettinahole. I will not attend meeting unless they stop the work," Kateel told media.  MP Kateel demanded that the government should hold discussion with experts. "Let experts from both sides discuss the issue," he added.

Meanwhile, NNSO members have submitted a memorandum to the chief minister through DK DC  A B Ibrahim Oct 18,  In the memorandum, NNSO members have urged the chief minister to hold discussion in Mangaluru.

NNSO convener Dinesh Holla said, "Let them hold the meeting in Mangaluru, instead of holding it in Bengaluru. We will think of attending the meeting only if the chief minister gives us an assurance that another meeting will be convened in Mangaluru. Our demand is that the Karnataka Neeravari Nigam Limited should stop all works related to the Yettinahole project before that."

Meanwhile, minister for health and family welfare U T Khader wants the Opposition to raise the Yettinahole issue in the Lok Sabha.  "Let MP Nalin Kumar Kateel ask his party colleagues who are in the Opposition to raise the issue in the legislative assembly. Yettinahole project was passed after holding detailed discussions in the Assembly. If there is any confusion regarding the project, it can be discussed again in the Assembly only through an adjournment motion. Let the Opposition party leaders request the Speaker to allow discussion on the issue in the Assembly.

Concern of people about the Yettinahole project and report of experts that the project does not yield desired amount of water for the parched regions of the state will be discussed in detail in the meeting called by the chief minister, Khader said.  Reacting to Khader’s statements, MP Kateel said, "I am not going to politicize the issue. I have no answer for such politicized statements."