Mangaluru, October 28: People of Ullal came together on Tuesday, October 27th to protest against the Netravathi river diversion project. The protestors assembled on the Netravathi bridge and protested.
Various community leaders, several organizations, political, religious and social leaders from Ullal area participated in the protest rally.
Before independence, and sometime after it, Ullal harmony existed between the people of all communities. As political forces began to grow stronger, the gap developed between the people. Now, the fight against the Yettinahole project has united the people, expressed the publics.
Prayer programme by all the religions was organized by Ullal zone Netrvati Conservation Committee in association with various organizations.
Sri Rajashekharananda Swamiji of Gurpur Vajradehi Math, addressing the protesters said, all the people know that districts like Chikkaballapur and Kolar are facing severe water problem. Now, the government through unscientific Yettinahole project may make the people here in future to face problems suffered by the people of Kolar now. Hence the people must fight against this project united, he said.
Maulana Yahya Tangal Madani, Principal of Al Furqan Arabic Institute, Thokkottu, said, we will not protest by stopping the vehicles. But as dangerous situation is present before us, this protest is inevitable. As all the people have come together to protest, it will be successful, he said.
Dean of Mangalore Diocese (south zone), John Baptist D’Souza, said that to maintain equilibrium in the environment, a protest by the equals is being done. He said the protest must continue till the government drops this project.
Men and women from all the religions including Christian nuns took part in the protest in large numbers.
President of Nethravathi Samrakshana Samithi- K Ravindra Shetty Ulidottu welcomed.
Thokkottu Auto Rickshaw drivers and owner association, Vehicle drivers and owners association Thokkottu, Merchants Association Thokkottu, ABC Thokkottu, Kapikad Umamaheshwari temple, Ullal Bhagawati temple, Thokkottu Nagakannika Rakteshwari temple, Thokkottu Vithoba Rukmayi temple, Thokkottu Gouri Ganesha Mahila Mandali, Thokkottu Overbridge Sarvajanika Ganeshotsava Samiti, Thokkottu Vasuki Seva Sangha, Vishwa Hindu Parishat Ullal, Bajrang Dal, South Kanara Tailors Association, Kesari Mitra Mandali Kumpala, St Sebastian church Permannur, Vidya Sahaya Matha church Vidyadharanagara, Our Lady the Queen of the Universe church Ranipura, Our Lady of Mercy church Paneer, St Lawrence church Taudugoli, St Thomas church Sajipa, Indian Catholic Youth Movement, SKSSF, Jammath-e-Islami Education, Wisdom Welfare Association Mudipu, Rotary and Lions Clubs Ulal, Tulunada Rakshana Vedike Ullal and several others organizations and institutions extended support to the protest.
Kolya Sri Ramananda Swamiji, former MLA, Jayaram Shetty, vicar general of Mangalore diocese Msgr Denis Moras Prabhu, zilla panchayat vice president, Satish Kumpala Netravati Conservation Committee president, Raveendra Shetty Ulidottu Harekala, vice president, Felix Monteiro, U Abdul Karim, Flavy D’Souza, Rajeevi Kempumannu, Ruksana Ummer, Ajit Kumar Ullal, Santosh Kumar Rai Boliyar, Annayya Kulal, Tulunada Rakshana Vedike president Dr K Muneer Bava, Yogeesh Shetty Jeppu and others were also present.
