Bhatkal: The Bhatkal Block Congress Committee on Thursday extended its support to the “Save Sharavathi” movement and reiterated its opposition to the proposed Sharavathi Pumped Storage Project on the Sharavathi river, while condemning what it described as misleading claims being circulated on social media.

Addressing a press conference at the Congress office in Bhatkal, Honnavar Block Congress president Govinda Naik said the Sharavathi river is the lifeline of the people of the region, eventually merging into the Arabian Sea.

He noted that several dams have already been constructed across the river for power generation, and the proposed Sharavathi Pumped Storage Project is another such initiative under consideration. According to him, the project was first initiated in 2006 and has since passed through various stages under successive governments and is now nearing the stage of implementation.

Naik said a citizens’ platform named “Sharavathi Ulisi Horata Samiti” (Save Sharavathi Struggle Committee) has been formed in Honnavar, bringing together people from different communities and political backgrounds on a non-partisan basis to oppose the project. Several meetings and protest programmes have been organised under its banner, in which Congress workers have also participated.

Referring to a protest organised by the committee on March 10, 2026, he said the programme was attended by Congress leaders from Bhatkal, Honnavar and Kumta and was led by Bharati Raghaveshwara Teertha Swamiji, Maruti Guruji and Pranavananda Swami. The district in-charge minister and Bhatkal–Honnavar MLA Mankal Vaidya was also present.

Naik said the protest meeting was organised as a non-partisan platform and leaders from different political parties, including the Congress, BJP and JD(S), were invited to collectively raise their voice on the issue.

Refuting claims circulating on social media, he said Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar had not made any statement regarding the implementation of the Sharavathi Pumped Storage Project during the Karavali Utsav held in Karwar.

He added that Minister Mankal Vaidya, who was present at the event, had clarified from the stage that the Deputy Chief Minister had made no such remark. Despite this, some individuals were allegedly circulating selective video clips and posts on social media to mislead the public, he said.

Naik also claimed that protests organised independently by certain individuals against the project had failed to attract significant public participation. Referring to a padayatra reportedly organised in Honnavar, he said only around 25 to 30 people had taken part in it.

Appealing to the media to verify facts before publishing reports, he urged journalists not to spread unverified information on the issue.

The press conference was presided over by Bhatkal Block Congress Committee president Venkatesh Naik. Bhatkal Block Congress general secretary Suresh Naik, along with party workers and leaders from Honnavar and Manki, were also present.