The Paschima Ghatta Samrakshana Horata Vedike has decided to approach the National Green Tribunal’s Southern Bench in Chennai by this month-end against the implementation of the Yettinahole project.
Before this, the vedike intends to gather as much material as possible to support its case against the project, which, it said, would endanger the ecological system of the Western Ghats.
Members of the vedike held a meeting here on Tuesday to discuss the ways and means to take the movement forward in a broader perspective so that the ecological system of the Western Ghats region remains unaltered. Vedike convener K.N. Somashekhar told The Hindu that the members discussed four major issues — the way to approach the tribunal; roping in people from the affected regions; observing July 1 as Western Ghats Day, and the modality of raising resources for continuing the movement.
The meeting decided to maintain unity among stakeholders as there would be lobbies to break the movement since the project involves thousands of crores of rupees, according to Mr. Somashekhar.
It was decided to involve residents of villages around the proposed Hongadahalla reservoir in Sakleshpur taluk of Hassan district since thousands of acres of forestland would get submerged if the project was implemented. It was decided to file separate pleas before the tribunal, urging different causes of action and seeking relief, Mr. Somashekhar said. The vedike has decided to get scientific reports prepared by experts about the importance of the Western Ghats and the effects of the project on the ecological system. Scientists at the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, and other eminent personalities would be approached for preparing reports before filing the plea, Mr. Somashekhar said.
It was also decided to observe July 1, the day on which the Western Ghats were declared World Heritage Site by UNESCO, as Western Ghats Day. Vedike members wanted school and college students in over 10 districts in the ghats region to be educated about the importance of the ghats and their contribution to the ecological system.
The meeting decided to launch a Re. 1 campaign across the State to raise resources for the cause. On one hand, the move would ensure transparency in resource mobilisation and on the other, it would create greater awareness among people about the Western Ghats, Mr. Somashekhar said.
