The ‘Forum for Protection of the Nethravathi River’, which includes various organisations from Dakshina Kannada and Hassan districts opposing the Yettinaholey river diversion project, will block National Highway 66 at Pumpwell Circle in Mangaluru city on October 15.
Addressing the media in Mangaluru on Monday, MG Hegde, one of the members of the forum, said that leaders from various organisations would address the gathering at the circle. All the four roads that merge at the circle will be blocked on that day, he said.
(Pumpwell Circle is a vital link to the city. It connects the city with national highways connecting Kerala and Bengaluru, and to various parts of the Dakshina Kannada district.)
Niranjan Rai, convener of the forum, said a blockade at Uppinangady town on National Highway 66 recently had received good response.
Dinesh Holla, one of the members of the forum, said that college students are also likely to join the protest on October 15.
The forum feels that the move to divert the west-flowing Yettinaholey to the eastern parts will have an impact on the eco-sensitive Western Ghats. Since the Yettinaholey is one of the tributaries of the Nethravathi river, the lifeline of Dakshina Kannada district, the diversion will also affect the Nethravathi, the forum leaders said.