Samiti calls meeting of over 20 groups on Yettinahole project tomorrow

Opposition to the Yettinahole diversion project continues in Dakshina Kannada with Karavali Jeevanadi Nethravathi Rakshana Samiti, which has questioned the project in the National Green Tribunal, calling a meeting of over 20 organisations representing all sections of society here on September 25.

According to the vice-president of the samiti M.G. Hegde the meeting would be conducted at Sahodaya Hall, Balmatta at 5 p.m.

A member of the committee, Purushottama Chitrapura, who is now the Deputy Mayor, has questioned the project in the National Green Tribunal, Southern Zone Chennai.

S.G. Mayya, former professor at the Department of Applied Mechanics and Hydraulics, National Institute of Technology – Karnataka (NIT-K), Surathkal, would speak on the “dangers” of the project, Mr. Hegde said.

Mr. Hegde said that about 23 organisations representing Hindu, Christian, Muslim and other religions have been invited to the meeting. He said some of the organisations invited included Bantara Sangha, Billavara Sangha, Mogaveerara Sangha, associations of Dalits, Konkanis and the like. The meeting would listen to their opinions to chalk out future course of action.

Mr. Hegde said that the Cabinet decision that the government would conduct social impact assessment of the project through revenue department was meaningless. Would any government department give any report which was not favourable to the government, he questioned.

Protest

Meanwhile, students’ wing of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike would stage a protest on the banks of the Netravathi at Jeppinamogaru on September 26 at 4 p.m.

In the next stage, next week, the vedike members would take out a jatha from Ambedkar Circle to the office of the Deputy Commissioner and submit a memorandum to him opposing the project, a release said.

It said that the vedike supported any struggle against the project by any organisation.

The release said that the government should constitute a committee of experts to discuss about the project immediately, its president Pramod Ballalbagh said in the release.

Meeting will be conducted at Sahodaya Hall, Balmatta at 5 p.m.

Karnataka Rakshana Vedike students’ wing to protest on the banks of the Netravathi