'Yettinahole project will have catastrophic results for DK'

Former union minister Janardhan Poojary said, “Yettinahole project will have catastrophic results for Dakshina Kannada district. It will result in the loss of biodiversity and will affect the supply of drinking water and fertile agricultural land in the region.”

Briefing reporters here on Saturday, he feared that diverting a tributary of a river would leave the river go dry and cited a futile exercise of Kerala and Tamil Nadu Governments to divert Pampa, Periya and Bharathpuzha rivers.

“Rivers have gone dry in Kerala and has affected farmers and the fishermen in the river catchment area. Even in USA, the Colorado river went dry after its diversion and the Soviet government’s decision to divert rivers joining Aral sea has resulted in imbalance and has caused the sea to slowly desiccate over the last several decades,” he stated.
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When there is an example of such futile exercise of river diversion, right in front of our eyes, why our elected representatives have failed to act in this regard,” he questioned.

“River Netravathi is the lifeline to Dakshina Kannada and any attempt to divert Yettinahole, one of its tributaries will have its impact on the district. Except Belthangady, Puttur and Sullia MLAs, other MLAs of the district and MP’s are not clear in their stand on Yettinahole. They have been elected by the people of the district and they should understand the pulse of the people and the consequences the project is going to bring about. The laying of huge pipelines to divert the water to parched districts will make the river dry,” he stated.

“When the government is proposing to include Mangaluru into a smart city list, where will the water come from if the industries and educational institutions come up in the district,” he asked.

Taking a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not supporting the cause of Karnataka in Mahadayi issue, Poojary accused the prime minister of trying to politicise the issue. People and MPs from Karnataka should raise the issue cutting across party lines,” he called upon.

On talks of proposed alliance between JD(S) and Congress with regard to BBMP Mayor election, he however said the alliance is not against the law.  He meanwhile flayed the moral policing act at Attavar and urged that the City Police Commissioner arrests leaders who were behind the attack and not just the perpetrators.