Prevent projects that are dangerous to Rivers: Environmentalist Dinesh Holla

Prevent projects that are dangerous to Rivers: Environmentalist Dinesh Holla

March 29: During a talk on ‘River Diversion and Interlinking of Rivers’, at TMA Pai College on Thursday, Environmentalist Dinesh Holla said that Rivers sources are sensitive areas and human interference should be avoided. The sources can be saved only by preventing the dangerous projects that can harm the Western Ghats.
The trend of resorts and home stays coming up near the sources of the rivers are dangerous. The rivers are drying due to unscientific projects implemented in the name of development.
He said that the forest fires are man-made. A forest fire in Western Ghats destroys the grass on the top of the hilly ranges. Due to this, when the region gets rain, water does not get percolated into the earth and dries up the sources of water. We should ensure that forest fire does not occur. Holla lamented over the people’s disinterest in supporting the campaign against river diversion.
He even said that no scientific study on the availability of water in the river was implemented before the government took up river diversion project.
Principal Dr Mahabaleshwara Rao was also present during the talk.