Mangaluru: Joining the string of associations opposing the Yettinahole Project, Dakshina Kannada District Anganwadi Workers and Teachers Association took out a protest rally from Mangala Stadium to the DC office on Thursday, October 29 and staged a protest there demanding the state government to drop down the controversial project.
Mangaluru City Corporation Mayor Jacintha Alfred flagged off the rally.
Addressing the protestors, former MLA Vijaykumar Shetty said, “Since the people of Dakshina Kannada are primarily dependent on fishing and agriculture, river water invariably becomes the quintessential source of livelihood. It is just the end of October and the district is already laced with water issue. Agricultural fields are dried up and farmers are struggling to find the water source. In such a scenario, supplying water from here in non-rainy seasons is unimaginable. It is unfortunate that the government is still mulling to continue with the project. If the project is taken forward, I can certainly foresee the formation Tulunadu district.”
“The government must immediately shelve the project,” he added.
Vice-President of Netravati Tiruvu Virodhi Horata Samithi MG Hegde said, “The government has been cheating people of both the undivided Dakshina Kannada and Kolar. According to its definition of the project, as much as 24 tmc of water collected in this part of the state during monsoon season will be diverted from Yettinahole to the North Indian drought-stricken districts in non-rainy seasons. 24tmc water equals to as much as water stored in 6000 cricket grounds. There is no availability of water in such high proportion. Also, the water from Yettinahole, in no way can be made to pass 350 kms in order to reach Kolar and other districts.
It is alleged that Deputy Director of Department of Women & Child Welfare Development, D.K, Sundar Poojary threatened many Anganwadi workers of listing them down if participated in the protest and thereby reduced the number of participants by a considerable amount.
Coming down on him, Hegde said, “Sundar Poojary has been influenced by the commission he is ought to get by supporting the project. In the event that he lists down any Anganawadi worker, the Horata Samiti will list down the supervisors under Poojary and initiate action against them. Hopefully, Poojary will realize his blunder when his children suffer for water.”
Hedge further warned the government of observing a bandh in Dakshina Kannada for a week adding that the Samiti was all geared up for it.
“The government had previously undertaken the Varahi project at a cost of Rs 25 crore which later went upto Rs 600 crore. However, due to its unscientific nature the project was not successful. Yettinahole project is another similar project which is not going to serve the people of North India,” said Fr JB Crasta, Parish Priest of Rosario Cathedral.
Congress member PV Mohan, Fr Watson and MCC Deputy Mayor Purushotham were present.
