Karnataka - Udupi   

`Coal-based power project will affect environment of region'

Staff Correspondent

Dharna by environment groups at Padubidri enters 21st day

VOCAL: State Convener of the Swadeshi Jagran Manch B.M. Kumaraswamy speaking at the dharna against the Nagarjuna power project, at Padubidri in Udupi on Thursday.

UDUPI: State Convener of the Swadeshi Jagran Manch B.M. Kumaraswamy said on Thursday that the setting up of the 1,015-MW coal-based Nagarjuna Power Project at Yellur in Udupi district would affect the region's environment. He was speaking at the dharna organised by Nagarika Seva Trust and other environment groups at Padubidri in Udupi district. The dharna entered its 21st day on Thursday.

Mr. Kumaraswamy said that the coal-based thermal plant would have harmful effects on both the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea. The livelihood of hundreds of farmers and fishermen would be affected. The fly ash generated by the plant would affect the health of the people in the surrounding areas, he added.

He said that supporters of the project had said that it would use state-of-the-art technology to reduce pollution and it would not have any harmful effects. Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy too had said that the people had to learn to sacrifice for the sake of development. But if all these arguments were true, then there should be no problem in relocating the plant to a place near Bangalore instead, he said.

Mr. Kumaraswamy said the people should not be taken in by the sweet talk of politicians, who were neither interested in the environment nor concerned about the people's interests. They were concerned only about their vote banks, he said, and added that the people of the district should give full support to organisations fighting against the setting up of the plant.

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