Shiradi Ghat

Netravati

Kempu Hole

Western Ghats

Shiradi

Sahyadri Sanchaya

Bangalore Mirror

Keriholeare

Pushpagiri

River Netravati Conservation Zone

Kudremukh National Park

Kolar

Environmentalists who visitedrecently were shocked to see thetributary devoid of water, a rare occurrence, one of the main tributaries of the Netravati river has gone dry due to the ongoing large-scale destruction of theEnvironmentalists from Mangaluru who visited Kempu Hole that passes throughGhat on April 23 were in for a shock as it is generally filled with water.Dinesh Holla, convener,toldthat in the name of development, mass destruction of the Western Ghats is taking place.“First it was the Gundia Hydel project and now it is the Yettinahole project for which work has been taken up at full speed despite cases pending before the National Green Tribunal. Though scientists like TV Rama-chandra, convener, Energy and Wetlands Research Group, Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Instituteof Science have stated that 24 TMC water is not available, the government is keen to implement the Yettinahole project spending crores from the taxpayers’ money.”Perhaps the government still believes in the data presented by irrigation expert GS Paramashivaiah about 15 years ago that large quantity of water is available.“A view of Kempu Hole this summer will certainly bring tears in the eyes of any environment lover. The current state of Kempu Hole should serve as a warning for the other tributaries of Netravati. Besides, it is also an indication that the fate of Kempu Hole during monsoon is not going to be any better,” he said.Holla said Kempu Hole originates from the Shiradi Ghat region of Western Ghats and is an important tributary of Netravati along with Elaneer, Aniyur, Kumara-dhara, Mrithunjaya along with Bandaje, Sunala, Neriya and Kapila.People of Sakleshpur in Hassan district depend on Kempu Hole for drinking and irrigation purposes, but several dams are being built in this region.Two dams each at Yettinahole, Hongadahole, Kadumane and one atare being built, resulting in the destruction of eco-sensitive areas including Hakkihole and Kabbinale Hole. “Destroying one tributary completely is bound to affect the water flow of all the tributaries and in turn Netravati, which is the lifeline of the people of Dakshina Kannada. The principle is the same – when you pump water from a well continuously, the water table in the entire region depletes,” he said.Kempu Hole is also known as Gundia Hole as it moves towards the south of Shiradi.On Shiradi Ghat, he said that it has already suffered enough damage due to the Bengaluru-Mangaluru Highway and the railway line. Now that the government has proposed the tunnel project, it is bound to cause further destruction.The other challenges in the area are the mushrooming of illegal resorts and hunting.Sahyadri Sanchaya has already submitted a letter to the government requesting declaration of the 123-kilometre stretch from Elaneer from where the Ghats begin toas theon the lines of thefor the protection of the rich flora and fauna.Several rare species of frogs are also facing threat. Kapila, another tributary of Netravati is also facing threat because of the Shishila Byrapura road, said Holla.“What has happened cannot be changed. There is no point carrying out padayatras by politicians in the name of protection of the Ghats to woo voters and then to forget the issue completely. We wish that the government at least now decides to protect the sensitive zones. Whenever a development project is launched, it is important for people and the government to look into its negative aspects too. In case the concerned minister feels that they do not have the knowledge, they can appoint an expert committee that could advise the government periodically. If we do not act now, Kempu Hole will be a thing of the past, only to be found in pictures,” he said.Acute water shortage in Kempu Hole is not only going to affect the people of Malenadu in the coastal region but also the parched districts of Kolar and Chikkaballapur.The fact that two taluks in Dakshina Kannada have been declared drought hit for the first time, also makes it evident that the government too agrees that there is no water in the area.