Thousands of people from Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts today joined a dharna at Mahaveer circle on the national highway here demanding that the work on the Yettinahole integrated river diversion project be stopped .
Traffic on the highway was disrupted for a few hours before the protestors were removed by the police later. Nethravati Nadi Samrakshan Okkutta (river protection committee) convenor Niranjan Rai said they had gathered here as 'their house had caught fire.' Irrespective of religion, caste and creed, the people here would strive to save the Nethravati river, he said addressing the protestors.
He said the government was fooling the people by filing an affidavit in the Green Tribunal that the people of the region had no right to their river waters. Their river and culture were under threat, he said.
Sri Esha Vittaldasa Swamiji of Kemar Math, who also spoke, said all the people of Tulunadu coastal region had awakened to protect the river. All College Students' Association (ACSA) president Dinakar Shetty said the project was being promoted by vested interest groups.
Environmental group Sahyadri Sanchaya leader Dinesh Holla also spoke.
