Karnataka - Mysore   

Decision on power project after feasibility study: Revanna

Special Correspondent

‘Government will take people of Chamalapura into confidence’

— PHOTO: M.A. SRIRAM

Up in arms: Farmers in Chamalapura are opposed to the proposed thermal power plant that is expected to displace at least 20,000 people.

MYSORE: Minister for Power H.D. Revanna on Sunday said that the final decision on the Chamalapura Thermal Power Project will be based on the outcome of the feasibility study being conducted by Karnataka Power Corporation Ltd. (KPCL).

But he went on to add that the Government would take the people of Chamalapura and surrounding villages into confidence.

Unfazed by the public protests and the criticisms against the negative fallout of the coal-fired thermal power plant, Mr. Revanna said the State was facing a crisis and there was tremendous demand for power without which no progress was possible. “Hence we plan to have three major power plants of 1,000 MW each and asked KPCL to conduct a feasibility study,” he added.

In reply to a question on the reports that the Cabinet had decided give the green signal for the projects, Mr. Revanna said it only gave an accord for public-private partnership in power projects. When questioned if the Government would study the feasibility of alternatives to coal-fired thermal plant, Mr. Revanna was ambiguous in his reply and refused to dwell on it.

There is growing public apprehension over the proposed power plant at Chamalapura which is about 35 km from Mysore.

The local community has formed an association and the surrounding gram panchayats, all of which stand to be affected by the project, have vowed to fight and get the power project disbanded.

Though the Government is tight-lipped about the extent of land requirement and even Mr. Revanna remained non-committal, KPCL mentions that at least 3,000 acres of land is required for the power plant which is likely to displace around 20,000 people.

However, the officials point out that 3,000 acres of land required for the project is meant only for the main plant and additional land requirement will be to the extent of another 500 acres to 800 acres to procure which the surrounding forests will have to be de-notified.

What is disconcerting to the public is that the Government has remained ambivalent on the project and has refused to divulge any details about it. But officials keep visiting Chamalapura and some people even conducted a religious ritual much to the chagrin of the local community.

People of Chamalapura, who stand to lose their lands, pointed out that police officials recently tried to procure their signatures on blank paper, all of which indicate that the stage was being set for their eviction and the Government was determined to go ahead with the power plant.

What has incensed the experts and non-governmental organisations here is that the negative impact of coal-fired thermal power plants have been proved beyond doubt and there is a world-wide movement against it. There are indications that the State will collaborate with Andhra Pardesh, Tamil Nadu and Kerala and help the National Thermal Power Corporation to establish a 2,000 MW thermal power plant at Talcher in Orissa.

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