As work on the Nethravati diversion project (Yettinahole project) has commenced in Sakleshpur taluk, Hassan, activists in Dakshina Kannada have planned a series of agitations from September 1 to press the government to stop the project.
Agitations would commence with distributing handouts to people in various parts of the district from Tuesday. It would have 10 questions which activists have posed to the government with the telephone numbers of MLAs, MLCs and MP of Dakshina Kannada. People could call up the elected representatives on those numbers and seek answers from them.
“When they get calls they will have no option but to answer the people. If they get fed-up, they should convene a meeting to make their stand clear,” said Dinesh Holla, convener, Sahyadri Samrakshana Sanchaya, which is spearheading the campaign.
He said that handouts would be distributed in public places.
In addition, they would be kept in hotels where visitors would be given them. He said that two horses would tour the district and in some parts of Mangaluru city, handouts would be distributed along with beatings of “chende” to draw the attention of people.
Activists would gather public support to make a movement against the project by distributing handouts.
Highway blockade
The activists have planned to block the Mangaluru-Bengaluru national highway at Uppinangady on September 15 from 10 a.m.
The Nethravati and Kumaradhara, which originate in the Western Ghats, merge at Uppinangady. The government has begun work in Sakleshpur taluk to construct eight weirs on six tributaries of the Nethravati.
Mr. Holla said that as the government has proposed to divert six tributaries of the Nethravati, how could it be called the Yettinahole project? It was nothing but diverting the Nethravati.
He said if the government did not convene an interactive meeting, the activists would do so by inviting elected representatives, government officials, media and activists. If they failed to turn up, activists would no longer approach them.
