INDIA: Coastal districts to be consulted on Param. Report

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Coastal districts to be consulted on Paramashivaiah report

The Deccan Herald - July 16, 2013

Minister for Water Resources M B Patil on Wednesday assured the Legislative Council members from coastal districts that people of the region will be taken into confidence before implementing the G S Paramashivaiah report on ‘diversion of west flowing rivers’ to quench the thirst of people of Tumkur, Kolar and Chikkaballapur districts.

Replying to Y A Narayanaswamy (BJP), the Minister said the government is serious in implementing Yettinhole project and Paramashivaiah report and stated that Rs 50 crore has been earmarked in the budget for detailed project reports. (DPRs) Narayanaswamy said people of Kolar and Chikkaballapur districts are deprived of quality drinking water and consumption of water from the existing water sources have caused fluorosis and other serious health problems. He sought to speed up both the drinking water projects. However, Leader of the Opposition D V Sadananda Gowda said people of the three coastal districts of Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Uttara Kannada are not averse to the Yettinhole project, but are not confident about Paramashivaiah report as it might lead to environmental imbalances in Western Ghats, which is the lifeline of the local people.

He said fish, one of the main food and economic sources for a larger section of people will become extinct if water is diverted. "It will lead to the destruction of entire Western Ghats. I have not gone through the report, but I want the people of the three districts to be taken into confidence," Gowda said. This led to a hue and cry in the House and members were divided in their views.

However, the situation eased when the minister announced that the project will be considered only after taking people of coastal areas into confidence. Patil said experts will be consulted on the issue.

SOURCE:http://www.deccanherald.com/content/345 ... eport.html