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Padayatra to save Sharavathy concludes

By Our Correspondent

KARWAR, FEB. 3. The 14-day padayatra along the banks of the Sharavathy, which began at Ambuteertha, the source of the river, ended on Wednesday at Pavinkurve near Honnavar, where the river joins the Arabian Sea.

The planting of a coconut sapling at Snehakunj near Kasaragod marked the conclusion of the padayatra.

Speaking at a function organised in this connection, the environmentalist Sundarlal Bahuguna said rivers are the lifeline of any country. But today, rivers in the country are being exploited and polluted, he added.

Mr. Bahuguna said most of the rivers are drying up. He opposed the move to link rivers.

Eviction flayed

Sharing his experiences during the march, Panduranga Hegde, who led the padayatra, said the source of the Sharavathy is drying up.

He expressed concern over the eviction of people from the river valley on the pretext of setting up a wildlife sanctuary.

The activists noticed that the intrusion of seawater into the river has affected agriculture on the riverbanks, he said.

It has also affected water bodies supplying drinking water, he added. Mr. Hegde said the accumulation of silt at the mouth of the river has created problems for fishermen.

Janardhan, an activist, said 30 environmental activists visited 84 villages during the march. They also enacted 48 street plays in the villages.

T. Poovaiah Gowda, principal of Sahyadri College, Shimoga; Shankar Sharma, Nagaraj, Gurudatta and Prakash shared their experiences. Keremane Shambhu Hegde, renowned Yakshagana artiste, presided over the function.

Mr. Hegde and Mr. Bahuguna told presspersons that the activists have completed a survey of the Sharavathy valley.

A beginning has been made to launch the "Sharavathy Bachao" movement, they added. Mr. Bahuguna said similar movements will be launched in North India.

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