Mangaluru, October 15: Numerous people gathered at Mahaveer circle, here on Thursday October 15th to protest united against the controversial Yettinahole Drinking Water Project.
Many protesters sat on the road and shouted slogans demanding the withdrawal of the project. As the protesters blocked the highway at all the four junctions at pumpwell and protested for over two and a half hours, the traffic movement on the highway was greatly affected.
The police took immediate actions and arrested the protesters and released them later. Normal traffic was restored.
Dr Niranjan Rai of Netravati Nadhi Samrakshana Okkuta addressed the protesters and said, forgetting all the differences, we have gathered here irrespective of religion, caste and creed with intention of saving river Netravati. We are not against providing drinking water to anyone but against the project which is a threat to our district. The government did not bother to consult us while finalizing the project and it is taking the issue lightly. The government should not mislead the people. We will continue our protest untill the project is dropped, he said.
Former MLA Vijay Kumar Shetty said, youth should get ready to fight for this cause. In the union government report it is stated that the project should not be done without consulting the people, hence it is the responsibility of the government to consult the people. In 2011 when we met the then CMs Yeddyurappa and Jagadish Shettar, we had asked them not to go ahead with this project and they had assured they would not do so without consulting the people of DK. Although DK brings the highest income to the government in every situation the state government is keeping DK and Udupi aside. If the river dries up, people, fishermen and farmers of this area will suffer I will fully support this protest, he said.
Sri Esha Vittaldasa Swamiji of Kemar Math said, this fight against the yettinahole project has united all people of Tulunadu irrespective of caste and religion. There are many unwanted projects and even as we fight against them, we have one more coming up. Stop this project or we will lay siege to Vidhana Soudha, he said.
All College Students’ Union president Dinakar Shetty Dinesh Holla, Sri Rajashekarananda Swamiji, Odiyoor Swamiji and others also spoke during the protest.
