The Hindu : Karnataka News : Panel visits Hanakon power plant site

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Oct 23, 2009
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Karnataka

Karnataka

Panel visits Hanakon power plant site

Correspondent

Company accused of violating CRZ and other norms

Karwar: A committee comprising experts and officials from the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests visited the site of the proposed coal-based thermal power plant at Hanakon on Thursday.

The committee led by A. Balraj, Chairman of the Environmental Committee (Thermal), and Nirmal Andrews, Chairman of the Environmental Committee (Infrastructure and CRZ) obtained first-hand information about the proposed thermal power plant.

Members of the anti-thermal power plant samiti met the committee members and alleged that the company implementing the power plant project had violated many rules.

It had obtained permission from the Union Ministry by suppressing information regarding the Curtigoan Wildlife Sanctuary.

The members led by senior advocates S.P. Kamat, Kishor Desai and leaders Shambhu Shetty and Uday Poshe alleged that the company had destroyed mangroves on the banks of the Kali and damaged rare plant species.

They alleged that CRZ norms had been violated and permanent structures had been built on the land acquired.

Mr. Vasurao, General Manager of Ind-Barath Power Company, denied the allegations made by the members and said that his company acted in accordance with law and had not violated the conditions laid the Government.

Addressing presspersons, Mr. Balraj said that a report would be submitted to the Union Ministry.

The experts later held a meeting with the officials at Deputy Commissioner’s office in Karwar.

N.S. Channappa Gowda, Deputy Commissioner, and Raman Gupta, Superintendent of Police, and forest officials accompanied the committee members to the project site.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Karnataka