The two-day convention on conservation of Devarakaadu, the sacred groves of Malnad region, has passed a resolution opposing the plan by the State government to divert west-flowing rivers to provide drinking water and irrigate parched regions in central and south Karnataka.
The convention began on Wednesday at Bheemanakone village in Sagar taluk and was organised under the aegis of Vrukshalaksha Andolana and Village Forest Committee of Bheemanakone.
Gangadharendra Saraswathi Swamiji, seer of Sonda-Swarnavalli Math who inaugurated the convention on Wednesday opposed the river-diversion projects. In the resolution, Vrukshalaksha Andolan called for a strong mass movement in Malnad region to oppose the plan to divert the waters of Sharavathi, Netravathi, Kali, Aghanashini and Bedti.
The convention demanded that the government immediately release Rs. 5 crore to conserve Devarakaadus. The convention also passed resolutions to urge the government to conserve native varieties of paddy and to take initiatives to provide easy access to farmers to Midimaavu saplings.
Anant Hegde Ashisar, ex-Chairperson of Western Ghat Task Force presented the resolutions.
