Bengaluru/Hassan: In view of growing opposition in coastal districts against Yettinahole drinking water project, senior Congress leader and former Speaker K.R. Ramesh Kumar has pleaded for completion of the project without depriving people living in these districts of water, or setting off environmental degradation.
In his plea posted on Facebook, Ramesh Kumar has said that people of Kolar and Chikkaballapur districts were not seeking supply of drinking water by denying the share of those living in Dakshina Kannada district. The project was not sanctioned overnight, but only after securing necessary clearances. Besides, many state governments had, in the past, aired statements about Yettinahole project. Now, the government has awarded work after inviting global tenders and work has been allocated to five companies. In the entire project, the pipeline runs up to only 50 km, and work has commenced a year ago. Therefore, the project should not be stalled at this stage, he sated.
He said the Central Water Commission and Indian Institute of Science have provided evidence for availability of water and its usage in Yettinahole and it was the main base for implementation of the project. Both CWC and KPCL had recorded quantity of water flowing into the sea during monsoon, Ramesh Kumar added.
He said statement issued by scientist Dr. T.V. Ramachandra trigger suspicion regarding his version on availability of water and his applications to courts. In what capacity did Dr. Ramachandra carryout the study on availability of water in Yettinahole? How could he arrive at conclusion that only 3 tmc water was available in Yettinahole? Ramesh Kumar queried.
Kateel to be taken into preventive custody
Member of Parliament Nalin Kumar Kateel and his supporters who are on a padayatra from Mangaluru to protest against Yettinahole drinking water project, are likely to be taken into preventive custody on reaching Sri Chowdeshwari temple, the entry point to Hassan in Shiradi Ghat. They began his 120-km padayatra on Saturday, in an effort to stall work at the project site near Sakleshpur, and will reach the border of Hassan Tuesday afternoon. Meanwhile, police have made elaborate arrangements at the border to stall their entry. A senior cop of Sakleshpur said on Monday that a decision has been taken by the police to take Nalin and his supporters into preventive custody to thwart any untoward incident. “At first, officers will try to prevent their entry and will not allow them to cross Chowdeshwari temple. If they do not pay heed, then we will take them into preventive custody,” the officer added. At the border to Hassan, a platoon of Karnataka State Reserve Police, two platoons of District Armed Reserve, two sub-inspectors, 8 assistant sub-inspectors and 50 head constables have been deployed. In case they sense trouble, BJP leaders of Hassan, too, will be taken into preventive custody. Apart from tightening security at Chowdeshwari temple, police have been deployed at Donigal and Yettinahole dam site areas.
