B. Janardhana Poojary, former Union Minister and Congress leader, said on Saturday that the government should give up the Yettinahole project as it would not only create a host of environmental problems but also lead to chronic water shortage in Dakshina Kannada district.
The Yettinahole project also known as the Netravati River Diversion project. is aimed at providing water to the parched districts of South Karnataka.
Addressing presspersons here, Mr. Poojary said the Uppinangady region in Dakshina Kannada was prone to water shortages during summer. The Yettinahole project would only worsen the problem there. The river diversion project would not only affect people but also the fragile biodiversity of the Western Ghats.
Mr. Poojary said it was a tragedy that all ministers, parliamentarians and legislators of all parties of the Coastal districts were backing the Yettinahole project despite knowing it was disastrous to these districts. “In fact, it is their duty to save the Netravati River, which is the lifeline of the Coastal districts,” he said.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah should undertake a tour of the regions from Gundia to Kumaradhara and listen to the opinion of the people. This would give him a first-hand knowledge of the problems faced by the people in Belthangady region of Dakshina Kannada due to the Yettinahole project, he said.
He also criticized the State government’s move to form an Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB). The ACB would work as a parallel body to the Lokayukta, which was undesirable.
The creation of ACB would result in weakening of the institution of Lokayukta. The Lokayukta should not be weakened.
This move would tarnish the name of both Mr. Siddaramaiah and the Congress. Mr. Siddaramaiah should drop the proposal to create ACB. “It is still not late to drop it,” Mr. Poojary said.
