JOIN USVarious organisations led by Nethravathi Thiruvu Yojane Horata Samithi closed the Mangaluru-Bengaluru National Highway at Uppinangady for more than three hours on Tuesday in protest against the proposed Yettinahole project.
In fact, the people from nook and corner of the coastal districts of Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Sakleshpur gathered in large numbers to send a clear message to the State government that they won’t tolerate unscientific Yettinahole project which would dry Nethravathi river, the lifeline of the coastal districts, to provide water to other districts. A large number of people were arrested and released later in the day.
Addressing protesters, Samithi Convener Dr Niranjan Rai said the Western Ghats are like the Himalayas to the people of Dakshina Kannada and it provides rains, ground water and greenery, but politicians are trying to make money through the project by destroying the river basin.
If they fail to represent their people, they should be ashamed of themselves. “In such situations, people have to come down to streets and show their strength. We will safeguard our Nethravathi,” he said.
Sahyadri Samrakshana Sanchaya Convener Dinesh Holla rued that most of the politicians did not visit Yettinahole, neither checked water-level nor studied any reports on the project.
“Karnataka Neeravari Nigama Limited says that there is 24 TMC of water at Yettinahole. If that is the case, then why do they want water from Kumaradhara?” he questioned and added that it may not be surprising if the authorities concerned try to take water from River from Kapila.
“It is nothing but Nethravathi diversion,” he said.
Odiyoor Gurudevananda Swamiji said that Nethravathi is lifeline of the district and protest against the project should continue till the project is dropped. Awareness should be increased about the dangers of the project among students and women. “The people should get ready for bigger agitations in days to come,” he said.
Badirya Masjid (Puttur) Khateeb Mohammed Darimi said that the people of the district may give blood, but not the water of Nethravathi. He regretted that the government is playing with the nature. “The river is a symbol of harmony in the district,” he noted.
Nethravathi Ulisi Samrakshana Samithi Convener M G Hegde said that there are around 2,500 organisations in the district.
Every organisation should conduct programme in panchayat-level to create awareness about the project.
In a lighter vein, he said that at the end of the project, the people of Kolar will get only the pipeline (without water), while Nethravathi would be dried and more than Rs 13,000 crore of public money will be gobbled up by the politicians.
Raitha Sangha District President Ravikiran said that Raitha Sangha would take the protest to its logical end. A forum should be formed to create awareness about the project in Chikballapur and other districts. Another road block protest would be held at B C Road (NH 75) on September 30, he said.
Rain no deterrent
The rain on Tuesday did not deter the protesters.
On the other hand, the police led by Additional Superintendent of Police Vincent Shantha Kumar arrested the leaders on the dais, including Mangalore City Corporation Deputy Mayor Purushottam Chitrapura. Superintendent of Police Dr S D Sharanappa said that seven striking forces were deployed for security.