Opposing Yetthinahole / Netravati river diversion project, Karavali Jeevanadhi Netravati Rakshana Samiti members, led by former MLA and senior Congress leader Vijay Kumar Shetty held a symbolic rail rokho protest at Kankanady railway station here, on Tuesday.

Addressing the gathering, Vijay Kumar Shetty claimed that Netravati river diversion project is nothing but cheating the people of Dakshina Kannada. The project might provide water to certain parts of the State just for three months, but it would heavily affect the environment, farming and the fishery. “Mangalore City Corporation is already struggling to provide water to the people in the city. If the project gets implemented, the people may have to migrate from the location,” he said.

On asked about some Congress leaders backing the project, Shetty said: “Some individuals may support the proposal for their political mileage, but we are with people. On January 31, we will organise a public programme at Kavoor against the project. We are also considering the possibilities of legal battle,” he said.

Congress leader P V Mohan said that the CM had assured of taking the people of Dakshina Kannada into faith before taking a decision on river diversion project, but he broke his words.

Without referring the name of Union Petroleum Minister M Veerappa Moily, social activist M G Hegde said that Netravati is not an asset of any individual or a family. If politicians dare to continue with the project, they would lose their political base in the district, he said and added that former CM D V Sadananda Gowda is also equally responsible for the problem.

Protest in Bangalore

Shetty said that the Samiti will organise step-by-step protest against the project, along with like minded organisations, breaking the party barriers. The Samiti members will protest at Bangalore, in front of Gandhi statue, on January 30. Ministers and MLAs from the district will also participate in the agitation, he said.