Okkoota plans protest against Yettinahole project on Oct 15

Netravathi Nadi Samrakshana Okkoota, Chief Convener Dr Niranjan Rai said, the Okkoota, will stage a protest and block road near Pumpwell Circle in Mangaluru on October 15, to oppose Yettinahole project.

Briefing reporters, here on Friday, Niranjan Rai said that the people from Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Sakleshpur are expected to join the protest.

“The Okkoota will urge all 227 gram panchayats in Dakshina Kannada to pass a resolution to oppose the project, before November 15 and urge the State government to drop the project. Already, over 43 gram panchayats have adopted a resolution against the project. If the gram panchayats and taluk panchayats fail to pass a resolution opposing the project, then the Okkoota will hold a series of protest in front of all the gram panchayats in the future, Dr Rai stated.

“The Karnataka Neeravari Nigama Ltd (KNNL) has failed to follow the directions issued by the National Green Tribunal. Though the tribunal had asked to halt the work till the hearing is complete, the work is going on at the project site. When asked officials at the site, they say that the work is being carried out on private land and hence do not amount to violation,” he added.

Dr Rai accusing that the KNNL has failed to get environment clearance from the Centre for the project, said the work is being carried out anticipating the clearance. The Okkoota will condemn the move, he added.

Sahyadri Sanchaya Convener Dinesh Holla said, a total of eight weirs have to be constructed as per the plans . As just the work on one dam is in progress, the work can be dropped right at the moment.

“The project is a conspiracy to implement Paramashivaiah’s report on diversion of Netravathi River in the future,” he accused.

He urged the government to declare Kudremukh to Pushpagiri range as ‘Netravathi Nadi Samrakshana Valaya’, to ensure that no harmful projects are implemented in the region. The elected representatives should participate in the campaign rather than issuing statements against the project, he called upon.

Banner campaign
A banner campaign will be taken out and banner reading ‘Yettinahole nillisi, Netravathi ulisi,’ will be put up in front of every house of individuals who come forward and support the campaign. About 500 banners will be printed. A team from Chikkaballapura will visit the Yettinahole site shortly, to know the ground reality on availability of water at Yettinahole, Holla added.

“The recent meeting organised by the district administration to discuss on the project remained inconclusive. Hence, a meeting should be held in Mangaluru to discuss on the pros and cons of the project. A meeting of office bearers of various organisations will be held at Roshni Nilaya on October 4 at 4 pm to discuss the future course of action,” he stated.

Various like-minded organisations, opposing Yettinahole, held a meeting and formed the Okkoota on Friday to carry out intense protest against the project.  The Okkoota comprises Malenadu Janapara Horata Samithi (Sakleshpura), Netravathi Ulis Horata Samithi (Uppinangady), Sahyadri Sanchaya (Mangaluru), Kannada Katte (Mangaluru), Tulunada Rakshana Vedike (Mangaluru), Netravathi Ulisi Horata Samithi (Belthangady), Rashtreeya Parisara Samrakshana Okkoota (Mangaluru), Malnad Youth Association, All College Students Association, Ariivu Samvada Kendra (Bamntwal), Netravathi Nadi Samrakashana Vedike (Bantwal), Bantwal taluk Nyayapara Samithi , Swaroop Adhyayana Kendra, Malenadu Janahitha Rakshana Vedike (SHiradi), Karavali Kannada Rakshana Vedike (Mangaluru), Raitha Sangha and others.

Mangalore Bar Association president S P Changappa also assured of all support to the
legal fight against the project.