Govt Trying to Make DK a Dumping Yard – Kemaru Swamiji during Yettinahole Protest
Mangaluru: The Netravati Rakshana Samyukta Samiti along with other organizations staged a day-long hunger strike in front of the DC office here on March 17.
Addressing the protesters Kemaru Sandipani Sadhanashram, Shri Shri Shri Esha Vittaladas Swamiji said, “Students have gathered here to fight against continuing the Yettinahole project. It is not the number of people who gather to protest against the Yettinahole project that matters. What matters is the aim and goal of the people fighting against the government to stop the Yettinahole project. After so many agitations and opposition to the project, the government without any botheration to our protests has continued the project. From the past 20 years, land is being encroached in Dakshina Kannada through Nagarjuna, MRPL, SEZ or other projects. The government is trying to make DK as a dump yard by bring various projects which harm the environment and the people of the district. The government has encroached our land through some projects and now is trying to take away the water by diverting the rivers”.
Swamiji further said that we do not need more people to fight against the project but the people who have gathered here should continue their agitation until the government stops the project. We need to intensify our protests and hold a “Vidhana Soudha Chalo”, campaign in the coming days. Recalling a story of a bird Swamiji said that there was a bird which was stuck inside the net and failed to come out of it, but when all the birds joined together they were able to come out of it when they lifted the net and flew along with it. Likewise we all should join hands and pressurize the government not to reserve any funds in the budget for the Yettinahole project. Swamiji assured his whole hearted support against the Yettinahole project.
Parish Priest of Rosario Cathedral Fr J B Crasta addressing the protesters said that the Rosario Church is situated in between Netravati and Phalguni river. Thousands of people use water from Netravati river. We all need water and it is our duty to protect the river. People from the Mangaluru diocese will support the cause, the fight against Yettinahole project should continue until the government stops the project. Let the government understand the importance of the river and drop the Yettinahole project and allow the people to lead a peaceful life.
Rahim Uchil, M G Hegde, Yogish Jeppu, Gerald Towers, Purushotham Chitrapur and others were also present.