Karnataka - Mangalore   

Opposition determined not to let Government divert Netravathi

MANGALORE: The State Government's proposal to divert the Netravathi has met with a fresh opposition after the Government hinted about it while presenting the 2011-12 Budget.

The Budget allocated Rs. 200 crore for lifting water from Yettinahole canal, a tributary of Netravathi.

The former Congress MLA Vijayakumar Shetty, and Karnataka Karavali Sampradayika Nadadoni Meenugarara Okkoota president Sharat Guddekopla told presspersons on Saturday that a committee would be formed soon to fight the Government's proposal.

Mr. Shetty said the committee would be apolitical one. It would decide on the future course of action to be taken.

Mr. Shetty said the committee would explore the option of finding legal recourse to stop the Government from going ahead with the proposal.

He said that if the proposal was implemented, the lifeline of Dakshina Kannada would dry out affecting fishermen and agriculturists. It would affect the economy of the district. G. Mayya, a professor in the Department of Applied Mechanics and Hydraulics, said that those who argued in favour of the proposal had been stating that there was excess water in the Netravathi during the rainy season. He wanted to know the yardstick for measuring the “excess water”.

Mr. Mayya said that if rainwater stopped flowing into the sea, marine life would be hit. It would give scope for saline water intrusion into rivers.

He said the hydel power projects and deforestation had threatened the ecology of the Western Ghats.

Mr. Guddekopla said that the existing check dams and vented dams across the Netravathi had prevented the flow of nutrients into the sea. Fishermen were witnessing a change in marine life as shrimp and lady fish had become rare these days.

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