The Yettinahole project which proposes to divert the Nethravati will cause an environmental catastrophe if implemented, according to Ravindranath Shanbhag, president of the Human Rights Protection Foundation.
A study conducted by the foundation on the likely impact of the project had found that nearly 70 per cent of the water would be actually used for industries in Hunsur, Hassan and Bengaluru. Mr. Shanbhag alleged that the government falsely claimed the project would provide drinking water to parched districts of south Karnataka.
“There are other ways of conserving the same amount of water which will be obtained through the Yettinahole project for these districts,” he said. Dr. Shanbhag was speaking at a seminar on ‘Recent trends in green chemistry’ organised by MGM College and the Association of Chemistry Teachers of Mangalore University here on Saturday.
A minor earthquake in the area could cause a disaster and submerge large areas under water. However, the government had not conducted any study to verify whether the subterranean plates could withstand the weight of water in such a large dam. Huge dams were being proposed to realise the project through dense forests of the Western Ghats.
As the Western Ghats and coastal regions were ecologically sensitive, no major industry should be established here without a study of the region’s carrying capacity, he said.
