Apology sought for 'fabricated' statements

Environmentalist K N Somashekar has demanded an unconditional apology from former union Minister M Veerappa Moily and Karnataka Neeravari Nigam Limited (KNNL) Superintendent Engineer Venugopal for issuing fabricated statements with respect to Yettinahole project.

Speaking to mediapersons here on Saturday, he said that he has already served a notice to the duo. “They should tender an apology within 15 days from the receipt of the notice, failing which, I will initiate proceedings of contempt of court for having committed offences affecting the administration of justice,” he informed.

Somashekar said that he had filed a petition in the National Green Tribunal (NGT), Southern Zone, in Chennai challenging the implementation of Yettinahole Integrated Drinking Water Project.

“The petition was admitted by the court and notices have been issued to the respondents for the hearing. Three more applications are pending before the NGT. The Court has not passed any orders favouring either of the parties in the issue. There is no legal clearance as far as Yettinahole project is concerned.

In spite of it, Moily and the KNNL superintendent engineer had stated that NGT had granted permission/clearance for the implementation of the project. The statement of Moily, however, is misleading and cheating the people of Kolar and Chikkaballapur. Being a representative of the public and servant of the state, the statements made by both are highly condemnable,” he added.

Suspicious

“The resignation of NGT expert member Prof Nagendran also makes us suspicious. After hearing the case, and when the judge had filed 100-page report for the pronouncement of the order on Yettinahole, the resignation makes us suspect the presence of hidden hands. In fact, the judge had sent a 100-page report to the expert member for his signature before the pronouncement of the verdict.

With his resignation, the whole petition related to Yettinahole has to be argued on the grounds of maintainability of the petition once again. The hearing will be held on July 4,” he said.

“There is a need for a strong protest against the project. The people of Dakshina Kannada should come to the street and fight against the project, to ensure that the project is halted. In fact, the Yettinahole project is nothing but a way to loot the money,” he added.