Hassan/Sakleshpur : A team of officials attached to the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest, Regional Office, Bengaluru, visited Hassan and Sakleshpur to inspect the works on the proposed Yettinahole project, on Monday.

During a meeting with locals in Aranya Bhavan, in Hassan, environmentalists expressed their opposition to the project. Environmentalists asked the officials, “Why did they not inform any local authorities or farmers in the district before their visit? The officials have come secretly and we will not allow them to take up the project.”

Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF) Ganesh Bhat tried to convince the environmentalists. Paschima Ghatta Horata Samiti member Kishor Kumar, R P Venkatesh Murthy, Suresh Guruji, K N Somashekar and Seshappa were present.

Earlier, the team visited Yettinahalla, Kadumane, Aluvalli, Kadagarahalli and surrounding areas in Sakleshpur taluk. When a few villagers and environmentalists asked information about the project, the officials refused to reveal any information.

behaviour, the villagers said “You are government servants and pursuing works using people’s money. Every work should be transparent. Government servants should provide information to the people concerned.”

Malenadu Janapara Horata Samiti president Kishorkumar said, the officials’ move was suspicious. Even the government has not provided sufficient information to villagers and farmers, who will lose lands to the project. The project is for the people and maintaining secrecy is condemnable, he said.

Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Amarnath Shetty, Chief Conservator of Forests S M Somashekar, Additional Chief Conservator of Forests Anoor Reddy, Chief Conservator of Forests, Hassan Range, Rangarao, and others were present.