Mangaluru : Ivan D’Souza, MLC from the Congress said here on Tuesday that he doubted the availability of water from the Yettinahole diversion project as projected by the Karnataka Neeravari Nigam Ltd (KNNL) in its detailed project report (DPR).

To questions at a media conference he said he doubted whether the quantity of water available for diversion has been calculated scientifically. “I doubt the detailed project report,” he said.

Stating that there should be more debates on the project he said that if the project would affect the people of Dakshina Kannada he was against it. The debate should bring out the fact whether it would affect the people of the coastal district or not.

The MLC refused to state clearly whether the debate should be conducted after stopping the works on the project temporarily or whether the debate and project works could go on simultaneously.

‘Padayatra farce’

Criticising the four-day padayatra of Nalin Kumar Kateel from Mangaluru to Yettinahole he said that it was for political gains and not in the interest of people. The padayatra was taken out keeping the next elections in mind. If the MP was really interested to stop the project he should have taken a delegation of elected representatives to the Chief Minister to apprise him about the project, Mr. D’Souza said.

He said the MP should make it clear to the public whether the padayatra has been taken out under the banner of the BJP or on his own. If it was under the banner of the party he should make it clear why State leaders such as Pralhad Joshi, Jagadish Shettar, Shoba Karandlaje and D.V. Sadananda Gowda did not participate.

He should make it clear whether the padayatra was taken out on the instructions from the party or whether it was his own decision.