Thousands of residents in Belthangady, Bantwal and Mangalore taluk depend on Netravati river for agriculture and other purposes. Due to reduction in rainfall, the river flow has been reduced considerably.
Meanwhile, the exploitation of river for drinking water and agriculture purposes too has contributed to decrease in water flow. Water is being pumped from the river at several places by individuals for their agriculture farms.
The reduction in Netravati river flow has affected those devotees who visit Sri Kshetra Dharmastala that they are not able to take the holy bath. Similarly, drinking water crisis too has been arisen in the temple premises.
Speaking to reporters, at the bathing ghat in Dharmastala, Sri Kshetra Dharmastala Dharmadhikari Dr D Veerendra Heggade said that the government should drop the Netravati river diversion project. “Instead of river diversion project, the government should take initiative to build a vented dam across Netravati to store water for summer,” he added.