The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Groups clash at public hearing

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Friday, Aug 29, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Groups clash at public hearing

Staff Reporter

Thermal project at Polatithippa

Environmentalists oppose the project proposal
Cancellation of permission given to the company sought

MACHILIPATNAM: The public hearing conducted at Polatithippa near here on Thursday to record the objections and opinions on the 1,890-MW thermal power plant proposed to be set up by Thermal Powertech Corporation (India) Limited (TPCIL) witnessed a few tense moments when two differing groups among the villagers clashed with each other on the usefulness of the project.

While a group raised slogans demanding that the project be located there, another group opposed it. The former accused the latter of stalling development, leading to both the groups clashing with each other resulting in the manhandling some persons. The police intervened, restoring normalcy.

The public hearing was conducted by District Collector Shailaja Ramaiyer, AP Pollution Control Board (APPCB) Executive Engineer S. Venkateswarlu and other officials.

Local MLA Perni Venkataramaiah (Nani) was present. The arguments against the project were presented mainly by representatives of environmental and human rights organisations.

Responding to the contention of these activists that the land allotted for the project, especially its mangroves, formed a part of the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ)-1, which prohibited any such project in the vicinity, Ms. Ramaiyer said that the 1,200 acres came under CRZ-3 and not under CRZ-1.

Mr. Venkataramaiah, while making a strong case for locating the project in the village, said he would agitate against the management of the power plant if it went back on its assurances. TPCIL vice-president S.S. Raju said the plan would require about 1,200 unskilled labour, which would be drawn from the village. Human Rights Forum State secretary V.S. Krishna and district secretary K. Sudha strongly opposed the permission to the TPCIL, saying the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report on the project was “incomplete”.

Mr. Krishna argued that the transfer of land consisting of mangroves to the TPCIL was “illegal and untenable”. K. Babu Rao, a member of the Hyderabad-based Forum for Sustainable Development, said that the proposed thermal project would be harmful to the environmental safety of the local people.

He wanted the permission given to the company to be cancelled in the interests of thousands of fishermen.

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