Mangalore, Jan 15: As a part of protest, Karavali Jeevanadi Nethravati Rakshana Samiti in association with members of various likeminded organizations and political leaders in Dakshina Kannada district offer ‘Nadi pooja’ to river Nethravati at Bantwal on Jan 14, Tuesday.
The protestors offered Poojas and rituals to river Nethravati in the presence of Sri Subrahmanya Samputa Narasimha Mutt seer Sri Vidyaprasanna Theertha and vow to oppose Yettinahole project till the government withdraw the proposal.
Speaking on the occasion, seer said that protecting our river Nethravathi is as important as the right to live. Diverting a river is just like snatching our right. If we abuse nature, it will invite disaster.
The government is ready to spend crores of rupees for the project, with an aim to draw water from Nethravati tributaries, but it will not benefit people residing beside the region.
Government must withdraw the Yettinahole project, which is equal to snatching one’s right to help another, hence people of the region must come together and fight against the project, he said.
Former MLA Vijayakumar Shetty, organizer of the protest, said that the government is trying to implement the river diversion project, which was opposed by all political leaders in 2003. He also said that they have urged chief minister Siddaramaiah and other ministers to withdraw the proposal and in return CM has assured convene a meeting of experts, people’s representatives and leaders soon in this regard. If the govt implement the project, the people in Dakshina Kannada will have face the consequences, he warned.
Activist MG Hegde, National Institute of Technology Karnataka professor SG Mayya, Jyothika Jain and others were present.
