Mangaluru, October 29: The Anganwadi Workers, Teachers and Helpers Association in Dakshina Kannada District staged a protest against Yettinahole project here on Thursday October 29th.
The protesters went on a rally from Mangala stadium here to the DC’s office where a protest meet was held.
The rally was flagged off by Mangaluru City Corporation mayor Jacintha Alfred.
Activist M G Hegde addressing the gathered said, the state government is deceiving the people of Kolar. To provide water to Kolar district, water has to be transported to a distance of 350 km which is not possible. Twenty-four TMC of water is not available at Yettinahole. The state government has said that it will use only the excess water during the rainy season. But this is not true and people of Dakshina Kannada should not believe such statements. Now, in rainy season itself, we are facing water crisis, hence there is no possibility of providing water to Kolar.
So far the government has not called for a meeting to discuss the project. If the project is completed, after 10 years the Netravati river may dry up and we will face water shortage. We will continue our struggle to stop the project, he said.
MLC Capt Ganesh Karnik said, this unscientific project will only benefit the people who are involved in it and not the people of Kolar district. As the project is unfeasible, the government should stop this project and save all the money that will be spent on it, he said.
Former MLA Vijaykumar Shetty said most of the families from Dakshina Kannada are dependent on fishing. Excess rain water which flows to the river and sea provides food for the fish. If the government diverts River Netravati then the fish will die without food. The people of Dakshina Kannada district are already facing water problems and in December and January there will not be much water to drink. This project is a threat to the district. The government must immediately stop this project and let the people to live peacefully, he said.
Fr J B Crasta P V Mohan, Fr Watson, Deputy Mayor Purushotham Chitrapura and others were also present.
