Concerns of people about the Yettinahole diversion project and report of experts that the project does not yield desired amount of water for the parched regions of the State will be discussed threadbare in the meeting called by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, said Health and Family Welfare Minister U.T. Khader here on Saturday.
Talking to reporters, Mr. Khader said he and other two Ministers – B. Ramanath Rai and K. Abhayachandra Jain – have apprised the Chief Minister about concerns of people of region about possible water shortage in the Netravathi if the project was completed.
He said Mr. Siddaramaiah had also been told of the report of the Indian Institute of Science (IISc.) that states only 0.85 tmcft water was available for diversion at Yettinahole.
The Chief Minister has also been told about the damage that the diversion would cause to the eco-sensitive Western Ghats as expressed in the IISc. report.
Mr. Siddaramaiah had told them a meeting would be called to discuss the issues; this meeting had been scheduled on October 19. As many public representatives would be busy during Dasara, the Chief Minister decided to postpone it, Mr. Khader said. On the statement of B. Janardhan Poojary that there was no need for discussion and the project needs to be stopped forthwith, Mr. Khader said his opinion would also be placed before Mr. Siddaramaiah.
The Minister said there was no question of continuing the project if it would cause harm to the Dakshina Kannada region and not yield the water necessary for Kolar and other arid regions.
On BJP MP Nalin Kumar Kateel taking to the streets on this issue, Mr. Khader said he had advised Mr. Nalin to avoid theatrics and instead persuade his party legislators to move an adjournment motion in the Legislative Assembly and Council. “For a project that has been approved by the twin Houses to be stopped, it needs to be discussed in the Legislature,” he said.
