Jai Tulunad Leaders Join Protest Against Netravati River Diversion Project

Mangaluru, September 15, 2015: Leaders and members of Jai Tulunad (Reg.) participated in a protest against the proposed Netravati River Diversion (Yettinahole) Project, organized under the leadership of the Netravati River Diversion Opposition Committee.

The organization extended its support to the “Kudla-Bengaluru National Highway Bandh” and “Jail Bharo Movement,” held on September 15, 2015, at 10 a.m. near the Ubar (Uppinangady) Main Bus Stand.

Among those from Jai Tulunad who joined the protest were Kiran Tuluve, Ashok Ashoknagar, Ajith Poojary Manjeshwara, Kaushik J. Shetty, Sumanth Hebri, and Sadashiva Mudradi.

According to Jai Tulunad, the organization opposed the project over concerns about its potential impact on the Netravati river system and the ecologically sensitive Western Ghats region.

“Come, let us join hands to save Mother Netravati,” the organization said in its appeal to people across Tulunad to participate in the movement.

The organization expressed concern that large-scale intervention in the Western Ghats could have long-term consequences for water availability and the region’s environment. It also warned that agriculture and fishing communities could be adversely affected, potentially creating economic difficulties for people dependent on these sectors.

Jai Tulunad further argued that the diversion of the river could eventually lead to disputes over water sharing, drawing a comparison with the long-running Cauvery water dispute between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

The organization called upon Tuluvas and residents of Tulunad to unite for the cause and participate in the movement.

The Yettinahole Project had become a major point of contention in coastal Karnataka, with supporters highlighting its objective of providing drinking water to water-scarce areas, while opponents raised concerns about its potential ecological and hydrological implications for the Netravati basin.