New Delhi: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) is going to pronounce its judgment on Yettinahole project on February 7.
NGT Chairman Justice Swatantra Kumar said the Tribunal will ask its southern bench to go ahead with the proceedings. In such a case, it will be considered a major setback for environmentalists fighting against the project.

Meanwhile, the counsel on behalf of Karnataka Neeravari Nigama had argued against providing separate report addressing environmental concerns as the permission for the project was granted under certain pre-conditions.

River Nethravathi, after taking birth in Samse of Chikkmagalur district joins Kumaradhara near Uppinangadi. Nearly 200 TMC of water enters Arabian Sea and people in districts surrounding Bengaluru had agitated seeking diversion of river Nethravathi to feed parched lands there.

Irrigation expert Dr. M Paramashivaiah had aired similar views in his report. The then Congress government headed by S M Krishna had given permission for a survey of river diversion project.

In the meantime, agencies from Japan and Hyderabad had termed it non-feasible considering the costs involved. Recently, environmentalists had approached NGT voicing their concerns over the project against which the tribunal is likely to pronounce the judgment tomorrow.

Here in Dakshina Kannada, Save River Nethravathi Action Committee has taken a stand to go ahead with fast-unto-death protest from February 10 after sensing a setback at NGT. However, the temperatures are going to soar further in the coastal region this summer with fractions having divergent views on the project.