Mangaluru, December 22: The people of Kolar and Chickkaballapur observed bandh on Monday, in protest against the Yettinahole project and demanded permanent irrigation facility. In this view, trying to project like submitting a proposal on behalf of the people of drought ridden areas, the government has sent advocate to the green tribunal, alleged irrigation expert Prof S G Mayya.
Addressing a press meet in the city, he said, learning on the severity of the fight against the Yettinahole project; the government for the first time has sent advocate general to appear before the green tribunal, pretending to show pity towards the people of drought ridden areas. Through this, the government has projected to the people that it has not kept quiet towards continuing the project, he criticized.
He further said, the Mangaluru City Corporation Deputy Mayor Purushottama Chitrapura had given a written complaint to the irrigation authority against the work carried out at Yettinahole without taking the permission of the Environment Department. It is learnt that, this is for the first time that in the high-powered committee meeting held in Bengaluru, the points specified in the complaint has been taken into consideration.
There is information that the team from the committee will come to Yettinahole on December 26th for spot inspection. The Yetinahole strugglers associations on that day will explain to this team about the failure that this project will witness, he informed.
Even in the drought ridden areas, the fight against the Yettinahole project has strengthened. Instead of this project, to implement the Paramashivaiah project, much time is needed and this project is not at all beneficial. There are no reports on its work feasibility. It is yet to be prepared. That project is unable to collect water even as that of the quantity that could be collected in the Yetinahole project. If this is implemented, protest will be continued against this. In case, the Environment Department grants permission to the Yettinahole project, it will be questioned in future, informed Mayya.
Vijay Kumar Shetty, President of Karavali Jeevanadi Netravathi Rakshana Samithi spoke and said, the government had postponed the meeting on the Yettinahole project because of Dasara, although two months has elapsed now, it has not called for the meeting, he said expressing dissatisfaction.
In the press meet, the fishermen leader of the horata samithi- Ramachandra Baikampady, Deputy Mayor Purushottama Chitrapura, leaders of various associations- Shivaraj Shetty Kolambe, Advocate Dinakar Shetty, Hussain Katipalla, Uttam Alva and Sukpal Rao and others were present.
