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Siddaramaiah was being misled on Yettinahole, says Poojary

Last Updated 21 September 2015, 18:17 IST

Former Union minister B Janardhan Poojary has said that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was being misled on the Yettinahole issue.

“The misinformation is a part of a conspiracy to destabilise the State government and a CID inquiry should be conducted so that the truth is unveiled and the culprits are arrested,” he demanded. Experts from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) – including Dr Ramachandra T V, Vinay S and Bharth H Aithal – have submitted a report on the Yettinahole project to the government.

They have clearly mentioned that there is only 9.7 tmc water in Yettinahole and not 24 tmc, as claimed by the Karnataka Neeravari Nigama Limited (KNNL). The surplus water, therefore, is merely 0.85 tmc, Poojary said.

“The former chief minister D V Sadananda Gowda has failed to read the report carefully. Around 1,142 crore of public money has been already utilised for the project, which is nothing but an act of cheating the people of Kolar and other arid districts,” he said.

The estimated cost of the Yettinahole project is Rs 13,000 crore and it would go up to Rs 30,000 crore. The government has not invited global tender for the project. The KNNL has submitted an affidavit to the National Green Tribunal that only 30 hectares of forest land would be acquired for the project. In contrast, according to the experts, around 1,000 hectares of forest land or at least half of the extent will be destroyed to implement the project,” he added.

Poojary, however, said that he stood in support of Siddaramaiah. “He has given a corruption-free governance so far. The elected representatives of the district should help him to continue it,” he advised. He called upon the former chief ministers from the region and the government too to file an affidavit against the project which is unscientific and not feasible.

Poojary came down heavily against former chief minister D V Sadananda Gowda for engaging in ‘cheap politics’ and levelling allegations against him.

He said, “I am speaking for the people of the coastal districts and not for personal benefit. You (DVS) are bound to destroy the region and don’t have courage to tell the truth. Political power is not permanent. When allegations came against your son, I didn’t utter a word,” he said.

“All ministers from coastal Karnataka have understood the seriousness of the Yettinahole project, but Health Minister U T Khader has not. As he was a lawyer, I thought he had a great political future. Yet, he is changing his statements very often. Khader – who is also the district in-charge minister for Kolar – should not speak like a person ignorant about the report. The people of Kolar too will not forgive him if they learn the truth,” criticised Poojary. Meanwhile, the Congress veteran questioned the silence of MP Shobha Karandlaje on the project.

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(Published 21 September 2015, 18:17 IST)

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