National Green Tribunal Orders Interim Stay on Netravathi Diversion Project

N Raghuram in the New Indian Express

A farmer showing the standing cropping plantation he would lose 

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) southern zone gave an interim stay for the Netravathi river diversion project in its order issued on Wednesday.

The appeal to the NGT was filed by K N Somashekar who had contested as an independent candidate in the previous Lok Sabha elections from Bengaluru.

Higher officials in the NGT,Chennai, confirmed to Express that the stay order asked Karnataka Neeravari Nigam Limited to halt all works related to the river diversion project until the Forest Department produces a legally processed environmental impact assessment report.

A standing protest by every section of the public

“This is a victory to our struggle. Though we are aware that our responsibility has doubled with this order, it gives us time to monitor the project closer than before and also to strengthen our movement,” Dr Niranjan Rai, leader of the Netravathi Nadi Tiruvu Virodhi Horata Abhiyana, told Express.  “We are in consultation with top lawyers in the country for taking up the anti-Netravathi river diversion project on a higher scale,” he said.

An empty pot demonstration by the public

Appeal to Union Minister

The Abhiyana, Sahyadri Samrakshana Sanchaya and other organisations involved in the fight against the river diversion project, will also appeal directly to Union Minister of Environment and Ecology Prakash Javadekar.

The resistance for the project goes beyond party lines-The two leaders of the district being ridiculed

Students of MSW campaign through street plays educating the public.

Tough Job Ahead?

State Minister for Forest, Environment and Ecology B Ramanath Rai, who had maintained that there was no damage to forests and ecology of the Western Ghats, may have to do a lot of homework and put his ministry on toes to put all the details before the National Green Tribunal , sources said.