Mangaluru: Denying that the Union government had permitted cutting of trees for the Yettinahole project, Minister of Environment and Forest (MoEF), Anil Madhav Dave on Friday assured that the Netravathi river too would be protected.
“The Netravathi river is a lifeline of this region and people here have a strong emotional connect with it. But I have come to know that some unnecessary activities are going on. We are going to review that. We will make sure that nothing goes wrong with Netravathi,” he promised, speaking to reporters here.
Mr Dave, who was in Moodabidri to participate in the 10th biennial Lake Conference, said he had checked with his ministry and had been told no permission had been given to cut trees for the project. “Work is being done by state government, but the Union government has given not one letter or line in favour of the project,” he declared.
Claiming that it had been brought to his notice only a few days ago, he promised to review it.
“We are in a federal structure. If there are any mistakes we will bring it to the notice of the CM and the state government. However, the issue is before NGT and so this will be subjudice right now. Let NGT decide. After that we will look into it if we have to. Protection of Netravathi is our ultimate goal,” he assured and asked if he would ask the state to stop chopping trees for the project, he said there were enough laws to protect them.
