mangalore today

Yettinahole: local residents demand to suspend second phase


Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Oct 19, 2018: Local residents affected by Yettinahole villages have strongly raised objections to the manner in which the second phase of Yettinahole Integrated Drinking Water project, intended to carry water from the Western Ghats to dry land areas, is being implemented.

 

Yettinahole


Pointing to the construction of open canals in their villages to carry water would harm the existing water bodies, they have demanded suspension of the project and urged the government to revise the execution of the project.

An advocate, and  a planter have said told media the project implementing agency, has awarded the construction of two tunnels/gravity canals, one for about seven kilometres and another of two kilometres, to a construction company based in Bengaluru. The company had also sought permission from the district administration to conduct blasts for tunnel construction. One tunnel starts at Hebbanahalli and ends at Belame and the second starts at Basavapura and ends at Bettada Aluru. The project would incur an expenditure of Rs. 335 crore.

“The company will dig trenches up to 90 ft. deep depending on the topographical condition. The work has already begun near Bettadapura. The terrain in Sakleshpur is not plain. We have got many tanks, borewells above the land where the tunnels are coming up. The open canals would draw water from the topsoil, leaving all our water sources dry”, Kavan Gowda said. He has also filed objections to the project before the Deputy Commissioner of Hassan. Instead of the open canals, pipelines could be laid to carry water as it was done in the first phase of the project. The villagers have decided to initiate strong action  if their demands are ignored.