Bandh planned in DK against Yettinahole project

: The joint council for protection of Nethravati river (Nethravati Rakshana Samyukta Samiti) has decided to organise a bandh in Dakshina Kannada district on May 19 to pressurise the state government to drop the Yettinahole project, meant to divert waters from the tributaries of Nethravati river for parched districts.
The decision was taken at a meeting here yesterday which was presided over by former MLA Vijay Kumar Shetty. The meeting condemned the government's move to go ahead with the project overlooking the objections and concerns raised by the people of Dakshina Kannada (DK) district.
Shetty said in a statement here that the district was facing acute shortage of drinking water and everyone was now realising the crucial role played by river Nethravati in their lives. It was time the people of DK came together to put pressure on the government to immediately stop execution of the project, he said.

He said people's representatives in the region had failed to comprehend aspirations of the people in the coastal area.
Shetty also revived the demand for a separate 'Tulunadu' state, which could be carved out of the undivided Dakshina Kannada district and Kodagu as the government was unwilling to listen to the demands of people in these areas.
Sri Esha Vittaladasa Swamiji of Kemar Sadhanarshram, Sri Rajashekharananda Swamiji of Vajradehi Math, Gurpur, Udupi and Dakshina Kannada district Muslim Central Committee president K S Muhammed Masood and Fr William Fr J C B Crasta, representatives of the Bishop's House, took part in the meeting and offered support to the action plan of the Samiti.

Samiti convenor M G Hegde said the state government was going ahead with the project even after realising that adequate quantity of water would not be available from the Yettinahole project.