Yettinahole project points to transition of water wars from inter-state to intra-state

The controversial Yettinahole Project (Netravati River Diversion Project) faces the ire of environmentalists as the government now plans to draw water from two other tributaries — Kapila and Kumaradhara — of river Netravati, which originates from the Western Ghats.

The environmental activists urged the district-in-charge minister and elected representatives to withdraw the project or face protests. The project, approved in 2012, has been mired in controversy ever since, either due to environmental or political reasons.

River Netravati is the lifeline of Dakshina Kannada district. The state government planned to divert 24 tmcft of water from Yettinahole, a tributary of Netravati, to the parched districts of Chikkaballapur, Kolar and Bengaluru Rural.

“The reduction in Netravati river flow is a cause of concern. People in the Mangaluru region face a water crisis, and need to ration water during summer. When we don’t have water to drink, how can we share with others?” asked Dinesh Holla, convenor of Sahyadri Sanchaya, an environmental NGO.

Holla argues that the project currently does not have the capacity to divert 24 tmcft. His arguments are based on a report by Indian Institute of Science professor TV Ramachadra, which said the water yield in the catchment was only 9.5 tmcft, and that was necessary to sustain the current level of activities in the area (agricultural, horticultural) apart from ecological and environmental needs.

The report noted that any variation in the natural flow would affect the biodiversity, aquatic habitats and, more importantly, people who are dependent on fisheries.

Mired in political controversy

Congress candidate from Chikkaballapur constituency Veerappa Moily fought the election on the promise of completing the Yettinahole project. Moily, who is from Dakshina Kannada, claims that 80% of phase-1 of the project is complete.

But the state cabinet-led Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) BS Yeddyurappa approved the project in 2012. BJP’s Sadananda Gowda, who is from the region, was sidelined from the issue. Though Moily and Gowda belong to the region, they contested outside their home turf and kept their interest in the Yettinahole project, hoping that it would benefit their new vote bank.

“The state government, both, the previous Congress government led by Siddaramaiah and the present coalition government are hell bent on completing the projecting without consulting the stakeholders here,” Holla said.

Of the eight Assembly segments in Dakshina Kannada, seven are held by BJP after the recent Assembly elections. The activists want BJP leaders to oppose it as it’s a state project led by Congress-JD(S).

Three years ago, the sitting MP of the area, Nalin Kumar Kateel, went on a padayatra (foot march) and threatened that the region would see protests on the lines of Ayodya Karseva of late 1980s and early 1990s if the government doesn’t withdraw the project.

“Natural wells run dry and borewells increased with drought condition. If people face crisis even before the government lifts water to other region, imagine the post-project scenarios,” said Umanath Kotian, BJP MLA from Moodbidri said. “The government should stop the project in the interest of locals.”