Yettinahole not a river diversion project, says CM

The Yettinahole project, which had evoked protests in Dakshina Kannada district, was not a river diversion project and the plan was to lift excess water during the monsoon, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said today.
Addressing reporters here, he said a separate board would be formed to speed up work on the project. The project would not harm the coastal region in any way, he said.
The Chief Minister said it was a wrong perception that the project would divert the river water. "We are lifting excess water during the monsoons and not diverting the Nethravati river," he said.
Siddaramaiah said he was ready to hold discussions with environmentalists opposing the project at a time of their choice in Bengaluru.

To a question, he said the government had received technical reports that the project would be a success and there was no chance of failure. He also said an expert committee had been set up to explore the possibilities of alternative sources of water.