Samiti for meet with more than 20 groups on Yettinahole project - Sept 25

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Sep 24, 2015 : As per reports, stiff opposition to the Yettinahole diversion project is gathering force in Dakshina Kannada with Karavali Jeevanadi Nethravathi Rakshana Samiti, which has questioned the project in the National Green Tribunal, calling a meeting of over 20 organisations representing all sections of society on September 25.

The vice-president of the samiti M.G. Hegde stated the meeting would be conducted at Sahodaya Hall, Balmatta at 5 p.m.  A member of the committee, Purushottama Chitrapura, who is now the Deputy Mayor, has questioned the project in the National Green Tribunal, Southern Zone Chennai.

S.G. Mayya, former professor at the Department of Applied Mechanics and Hydraulics, National Institute of Technology – Karnataka (NIT-K), Surathkal, would speak on the “dangers” of the project, Mr. Hegde said.

Mr. Hegde said that about 23 organisations representing Hindu, Christian, Muslim and other religions have been invited to the meeting. He said some of the organisations invited included Bantara Sangha, Billavara Sangha, Mogaveerara Sangha, associations of Dalits, Konkanis and the like. The meeting would listen to their opinions to chalk out future course of action.

 Hegde said that the Cabinet decision that the government would conduct social impact assessment of the project through revenue department was meaningless. Would any government department give any report which was not favourable to the government, he questioned.

Protest:  The students’ wing of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike would stage a protest on the banks of the Netravathi at Jeppinamogaru on September 26 at 4 p.m.

Next week, the vedike members would take out a jatha from Ambedkar Circle to the office of the DK DC  and submit a memorandum to him opposing the project, a release said.   It said that the vedike supported any struggle against the project by any organisation.  The government should constitute a committee of experts to discuss about the project immediately, its president Pramod Ballalbagh.