Udupi: Sri Vishwesha Tirtha Swamiji of Pejawar Math said on Saturday that the State Government should not impose mega power projects on the people of the three coastal districts without undertaking a study of the carrying capacity. He was speaking after releasing the book "Dakshina Kannadada Devara Kadugalu" written by K. Prabhakar Acharya and Vidya Nayak, here.

The swamiji said the Government planned to set up two thermal power projects - one at Padubidri in Udupi district and another at Tadadi in Uttara Kannada district. These projects had led to protests from people there.

Udupi, Dakshina Kannada and Uttara Kannada were ecologically sensitive districts. This made it all the more important to undertake a survey of the carrying capacity of these three districts. It is necessary to study the impact of such mega projects on the sea, fisheries and evergreen forests of the region.

As regards the proposed 1,015 MW coal-based power project in Udupi district, the representatives of the Nandikur Janajagriti Samiti, Government, and the company should discuss the matter. The swamiji said steps should be taken to protect areas such as "Devara Kadu", "Naga Bana" and "Bhutalayas". K. Prabhakar Achar said that Naga Banas should not be destroyed to make way for temples there. Premananda Kalmady welcomed the gathering. President of Nagarika Seva Trust Somanatha Nayak, writer Varadesh Hiregange, and Medical Superintendent of SDM Hospital Y.N. Shetty were present.

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