SHIMOGA: Environmentalists from Shimoga opposed the government’s move to implement Nethravathi Diversion project (NDP), which would be hazardous to environment and create an imbalance in the ecology of rich Western Ghat, besides causing problems to aquatic organisms.
Talking to Express, member of Western Ghat Task Force, Prof B M Kumaraswamy said NDP was a most disastrous project. Wildlife will be disturbed due to use of heavy machinery, also, labour colonies will be established till the work is completed, hampering the forests, he added.
Further, he said rain water does not percolate into the soil, which could deplete the water table and in turn affect the flora. As a result, neither South Canara will have Nethravati river nor Kolar but other districts will get water, he added.
Western Ghat Ecology Expert Committee constituted by Union Ministry of Environment and Forest, under the chairmanship of Dr Madhu Gadgil has submitted a report that entire Western Ghat has to be treated as ecologically sensitive area.
The committee suggested the Central government to drop the Gundya project in Hassan that was part of Western Ghat.
Environmentalist and director of Environment Study Centre, Santekadur J L Janardhan opined that NDP was not environmentally feasible and aquatic organisms in this region would be completely destroyed.