Major projects in Western Ghats are cause for recent tremors?

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Mar 4, 2015 : Recent mild tremors in and around the Western Ghats could be due to the unscientific schemes being implemented by the government in the name of development, is the feeling of people of the region.

With this in view, residents are gearing up to oppose projects being taken up in the Western Ghats.

The region (Kodagu, Sakleshpur and Moodigere) had witnessed mild tremors on February 25, at 6.58 am, which lasted a few seconds. Environment activists have been strongly opposing the construction of hydel power projects, the Yettinahole drinking water project, and the laying of gas and petroleum pipelines, in the Western Ghats, given the adverse impacts that these projects can have on the environment and ecology.

Janaspandana Forum President Rakshidi said that the dynamite blasting during the works had caused irreparable damage to the land with cracks being observed for kilometers at a stretch. To add to the damages is the Yettinahole project, for which works have begun.  “The State government has given administrative approval for the project in a hurry. Already there is a dip in the average rainfall by 30 per cent. The Netravathy, Gundia, Hemavathy and other rivulets, which used to have sufficient water for eight months in a year, are now running dry after merely four to five months,” he said.