Days after some of the elected representatives from the coastal region and environmentalists raised objections to the Yettinahole project, Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Anil Madhav Dave on Friday made it clear that his Ministry had not given permission to cut trees under the project.
Officials in the State have been maintaining that 4,995 trees would have to be cut for executing the project, which seeks to lift water from the west-flowing Yettinahole stream from the Western Ghats to supply drinking water to six parched districts in the southern region.
“Permission has not been given for cutting trees. I have checked it with my Ministry. Not a single letter is there,” Mr. Dave, who was here to participate in the valedictory function of a workshop, told presspersons.
Describing the Western Ghats as the country’s lungs, the Union Minister said he would review the project taken up by the Sate government once the National Green Tribunal gives its verdict in response to a batch of petitions pending before it against the project.
Asked about the ongoing civil works which includes cutting of trees in the bio-diversity hotspot, the Minister said: “That is a different matter. The work is being done by the State government. The Union government has not given a single letter or single line in favour of the project.”
To a question if the Union government would ask the State to stop the project, Mr. Dave said, “We have a federal structure. If there is anything wrong, we will bring it to the notice of the Chief Minister.”
He refused to comment on the project by pointing out that he matter was now sub-judice and as a Minister he could not give any “verdict”.
Referring to the Nethravati, he said that it was the lifeline of the coastal people. “People have strong emotional relation with the river. I have come to know that some unnecessary work [related to the diversion of river water] are on. We are trying to review it. But [we will] make sure that nothing goes wrong with the Nethravati.”
The Minister was here to attend the valedictory of 10th Biennial Lake Conference organised by the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, and Alva’s Education Foundation with a focus on ‘Conservation and sustainable management of ecologically sensitive regions in the Western Ghats.’
