The Dakshina Kannada unit of Aam Admi Party (AAP) has opposed the proposed projects such as the diversion of River Nethravathi from Yettinahole and the establishment of a thermal power plant at Niddodi in Moodbidri taluk of the district.
Addressing presspersons here on Thursday, S. Nandagopal, spokesperson of the Dakshina Kannada unit of AAP, said that the proposed river diversion project at Yettinahole will cause depletion in the water level of River Nethravathi. This will have an impact on the eco-systems in coastal Karnataka and in the Western Ghats region.
Seeking a stay on the tendering process initiated by the Karnataka Government for the project, Nandagopal said that the State Government should constitute a committee of experts to study and assess the actual impact of the project.
Expressing the opposition of the party to the proposed thermal power plant at Niddodi in Moodbidri, he said that the Union Government should convene a public hearing on the project.
Nandagopal said that the Karnataka Government, under the leadership of S.M. Krishna, had initiated an Asian Development Bank-funded KUDCEMP (Karnataka Urban Development and Coastal Environment Management Project) a few years ago.
He said that the Government should answer questions regarding the present status of work under the project, the amount spent, the repayment terms and conditions, and the tax burden on the citizens of Mangalore due to this project.
Mandatory Aadhar
He said that some LPG agencies in the district are insisting on Aadhar for LPG connections to households, despite a Supreme Court order that Aadhar is not mandatory for LPG connections. This shows the highhandedness of such agencies.
AAP is planning to associate with some civil society organisations to file a public interest litigation in this matter, he said.
To prepare a comprehensive manifesto for the Mangalore Lok Sabha constituency, AAP has invited suggestions from the public. Citizens can send their views and suggest action plans with regard to infrastructure, healthcare, education, trade, commerce and industry to the Dakshina Kannada unit of the party, he said.
The party, which has around 500 primary members in the district, is targeting a membership of around 10,000 in the next two months, Nandagopal said.