It is too late to stop Yettinahole project: Khader

Once again, Minister for Health and Family Affairs and Kolar District-in-Charge Minister U T Khader could not clear his present stand on controversial Yettinahole project, but ended with balancing act.

According to him it is too late to protest against the project which was initiated during the BJP government.  

Speaking to media persons here on Friday, the Minister said that when Congress was in opposition, the MLAs from the district had opposed the Yettinahole project proposal and had written letters to then CM D V Sadananda Gowda.

CM and MP both were from Dakshina Kannada and there was a chance to think about the affects of the project on the district. But, the BJP government passed Bill, completed tender process and even finished the technical formalities, he said. 

On resignation  

“We were quiet then and now it is too late to stop it. Now four ministers from the district can’t do anything against 60 MLAs from four districts which get benefit from the project.

In the leadership of District-in-Charge Minister Ramanath Rai, we had explained the people’s opinion here about the project to the CM and he has assured of providing sufficient water to the district,” he said. On asked about the chances of submitting resignation to ministership, demanding to drop the project, Khader said: “I would take right decision at right time”. ‘Moily has done no wrong’ 

Khader said that Union Petroleum Minister Dr Veerappa Moily has done nothing wrong by fulfilling his promise by implementing a project for the benefit of people of his constituency. 

“I would rather ask where was MP Nalin Kumar Kateel when BJP government prepared draft for Yettinahole project. If Janardhana Poojary would have been there, he would never allowed the project get implemented so easily. We lacked leadership,” he said. Khader claimed that the Yettinahole row would affect BJP more than Congress in coming Lok Sabha election. 

The Minister said that he didn’t give any statement supporting or against the project, but explained the same facts in Kolar as well. He also showed a video footage of his statement given to media at Kolar which was ‘misinterpreted’ according to him.

“I always said that water should be provided to Kolar, but not in the expense of Dakshina Kannada. The government has considered other projects as well”.  Interestingly, on asked about the CM’s failed promise of convening a meeting in Dakshina Kannada before implementing the project, the minister was mum.  

Block Congress President Eshwar Ullal, party men Sadhashiv Ullal, Mohammed Monu, Krishna Gatti and others were present.