Mangaluru : Former Union minister B Janardhana Poojary performed ‘Urulu Seve,’ on the hot granite flooring of the Kudroli Sri Gokarnanatheshwara Temple in the city on Friday, praying for rainfall and for stopping of Yettinahole project.

A mass prayer, Brahmakalasha and Rudrabhisheka were also performed in this regard and also on the occasion of Navarathri festival, which is popularly known as Mangaluru Dasara.

The former minister, who had kept his wish a secret, expressed his desire to perform the ‘Urulu Seve’ around the temple at 12.30 pm on Friday and after the silver chariot procession of the God. The ‘seve’ was performed for almost 15 to 20 minutes. MCC Corporator Radhakrishna and others also performed the ‘seve’ with the former minister.

Poojary prayed the almighty to bless the country and the State with good rainfall, in order to save the economy.

“The Yettinahole project should be dropped. The people of coastal Karnataka are not only facing water shortage for crops but also for drinking purpose. There are many engineering and medical colleges in the region. The Yettinahole project will convert coastal Karnataka into a desert, he said.

Meanwhile, the former minister also prayed to the God to solve the water woes of Kolar and Chikkaballapur districts.

“If chief minister, prime minister and Union and State ministers make up their mind, these problems can be solved. So, the almighty should give the wisdom to do the work. He also prayed for the wellbeing of the fishermen.