Poojary demands CID probe into decision on Yettinahole project

Senior Congress leader Janardhan Poojary today alleged that Yettinahole water diversion project was the result of a conspiracy to tarnish the image of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and wanted Criminal Investigation Department (CID) probe into the matter.
Addressing reporters here, he alleged that the firm which was carrying out the work belonged to a 'tainted' IAS officer who was facing charges of amassing wealth disproportionate to known sources of income.
Poojary, a former Union minister, alleged that the ChiefMinister was 'misled' by some elected representatives and officials who were keen on sullying his image.
The project would in no way benefit people belonging to parched districts, he said.

He said the people of Dakshina Kannada wanted to know the logic behind spending Rs 13,000 crore for a project which could divert only 0.85 tmc ft of water.
He also took strong exception to the reported statement of Union Law Minister D V Sadananda Gowda that he (Poojary) was working against the project for 'political survival'.
It was Gowda who was misguiding the people of Chikkaballapur, Tumakuru, Kolar and other districts for his survival, he charged.
Yettinahole project, meant to feed water-starved districts of Hassan, Bengaluru Rural and Chikkaballapur by diverting water of Netravati river in Dakshina Kannada, has been opposed by various sections, including politicians, local people and environmentalists, saying it would dry up the Nethravati river here.