Poojary demands CID probe into 'Yettinahole scam'

MANGALURU: Former Union minister and Congress leader B Janardhan Poojary alleged that there is a big scam in handing over the work of Yettinahole project to partner of Meghana Constructions Kapil Mohan, who is a corrupt IAS officer and had been earlier raided by enforcement agencies. Poojary told reporters here on Monday that Yettinahole project is a big scam. "Yettinahole project is a big scam, which should be inquired by the CID and the truth should be revealed before the people. Moreover, action should be taken against those who are behind the scam. As per rules, contract for a project that costs more than Rs 20 crore should be awarded through global tender. There is a big scam in handing over the project to partner of Meghana Constructions Kapil Mohan, who is a corrupt IAS officer," Poojary charged. Quoting the report of Dr T V Ramachandra of Indian Institute of Science (IISC), Poojary said the maximum availability of water for the project is only 0.85 tmc. "What is the purpose of spending Rs 13,000 crore for a project where the water availability is less than 1 tmc? Few people's representatives and officials are trying to misguide the chief minister and keeping him in dark. There are moves to destabilize the government too," Poojary warned. Questioning Union minister for law and justice D V Sadananda Gowda for mooting the project during his tenure as Karnataka chief minister, Poojary said, "he is trying to cheat innocent people of Kolara and other regions." "He (Gowda) is repeatedly stating that the project will have no impact on Nethravathi river. Hasn't he read the report prepared by the experts of Indian Institute of Science? My fight is for the people of Dakshina Kannada and not against any politicans," Poojary said. "Minister for forest, environment and ecology B Ramanath Rai and district in-charge secretary Bharathlal Meena seems to have understood the pros and cons of Yettinahole project through a review meet held at Dakshina Kannada zilla panchayat on Saturday. However, minister for health and family welfare U T Khader has been speaking as if he has not understood about the project. Read the report prepared by the experts of IISC," Poojary said and called upon people to file affidavit before the National Green Tribunal Chennai bench and raise our voice. -TOI