The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Scrap power project at Sompeta: TDP

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Friday, Jul 16, 2010
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Scrap power project at Sompeta: TDP

K. Srinivasa Rao

Praja Rajyam president K. Chiranjeevi announces Rs.1 lakh each for the victims' families

— Photos: Basheer

OFFERING CONDOLENCES:TDP president N. Chandrababu Naidu and (Right) Praja Rajyam chief K. Chiranjeevi consoling the family of Joga Rao who was killed in the police firing, in Sompeta mandal on Thursday.

SOMPETA (SRIKAKULAM DT): TDP president N. Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday demanded immediate scrapping of the proposed thermal power project at Sompeta mandal in Srikakulam district as a majority of the people were opposed to it.

This is the first time that the TDP has made its stand clear on the 2,640 MW power plant to be built by Nagarjuna Construction Company. It had so far argued that the project must be taken up only with the consent of the locals. Making the party's stand clear, Mr. Naidu said the thermal power plant would deprive people residing in 24 villages in and around Sompeta of their livelihood.

‘Dharmana should go'

He also sought the resignation of Revenue Minister Dharmana Prasada, who hails from the district, as he was instrumental in taking up the project. If he does not resign, the Chief Minister should dismiss him from the Cabinet, he added.

A day after the police firing in which two people were killed, the TDP president, his party's polit bureau member, K. Yerran Naidu, and other leaders visited Sompeta mandal to console the families of Joga Rao and Krishnamurthy who were killed in the police firing. They announced Rs.25,000 financial support to the family of each victim.

“The government is using its power brutally to execute the project without taking prior consent of the villagers. The ecology will be destroyed and people will not get even drinking water in future. Moreover, the company has tried to begin work with the support of a private army even before getting environmental clearance,” Mr.Chandrababu Naidu alleged.

Families consoled

Praja Rajyam chief Chiranjeevi, BJP senior leader Bandaru Dattatreya and CPI secretary K. Narayana visited Lakkavaram and Palasapuram to console the families.

Mr. Chiranjeevi, who announced Rs1 lakh each for the victims' families, asked the government to order a judicial inquiry into the police firing. “Dharmana Prasada Rao is responsible for the police firing since he was very keen on pushing the project at any cost. The government should announce Rs.10 lakh ex gratia for each family,” he added.

Mr. Narayana alleged that the police resorted to firing on innocent and unarmed people.

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