Nethravati Diversion: Activism Soars

MANGALURU: The efforts of the government to end the anti-Nethravati diversion activism nexus seems to be yielding no results.

The Sahyadri Samrakshana Sanchaya in Mangaluru is joined by the Malenadu Horata Samiti of Sakleshpur and chances are that activists from Hassan may join forces on Monday when the Sanchaya and Samiti submit a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner at Hassan.

“Our study and research indicate that the government plans to suck 24 TMC of water collected during the monsoons from Hongadahalla, a natural river water pool about 40 km from Sakleshpur and pump it to Kolar. This is harmful to the environment as it cuts through the Western Ghats aquifer system at many places and might render the underground water sources dry. The Hongadahalla is a surface aquifer system that gets water from Yettinahole, Addahole, Naikanahole and Girihole in Bisile Ghat. The water joins Kumaradhara river which feeds Nethravati river at Uppinangady,” said Rajashekar, an environmentalist from Sakleshpur.

Environmentalists in Sakleshpur point out that taking the pipeline all the way from Hongadahalla to Kolar (285 km) will destroy the green cover and harm farmlands throughout the route.

Samiti convenor Kishore Kumar said they plan to intensify the movement against taking up any river water project in the Western Ghats.

Meanwhile, contractors have started gathering materials in Sakleshpur.

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