Mangaluru : Senior Congress leader B. Janardhana Poojary on Saturday took strong exception to Health Minister U.T. Khader’s statement that Yettinahole project would be implemented at any cost, and warned that people have already decided to send home the leaders who have been supporting the controversial project.

“The district has got united cutting across political party, religion and language barriers to save Netravathi and observed voluntary bandh on May 19,” said Mr. Poojary.

Mr. Khader on Thursday had said in Bengaluru that the Yettinahole project would be implemented, come what may.

This has enraged persons like senior Congressman Poojary who have been saying that the district would go barren if Netravathi waters are diverted.

Mr Poojary said that the minister is also in the midst of a scandal where he and members of his family are allegedly involved in drug purchase scam amounting to over Rs. 1,400 crore. “It is not enough to tour the State; you should have monitored the functioning of the department properly,” he said.

Mr. Poojary urged Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to halt the controversial Yettinahole water diversion project. “You should understand the sentiments of people of Dakshina Kannada who wholeheartedly participated in the district bandh on May 19 against the project. If you have not learnt any lessons so far, people would teach you the lesson,” he told Mr. Siddaramaiah.