Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (SP)
Udupi, Oct 29: Since the last couple of days, thousands of dead fish were found floating at sea near Yermal in the district. The locals had blamed Udupi Power Corporation Ltd (UPCL) for the phenomenon, alleging that the company has been releasing untreated effluents into the sea, which has been causing the death of fish in such a large number.
UPCL site in-charge, J H Naidu, termed these claims as misleading. He denied that the company was releasing untreated effluents into the sea since the last some days. “The thermal power plant of the company was closed on October 8 a month’s annual maintenance. In the meanwhile, certain concerns have been entrusted with the task of removing silt from the inlet pipe of the company. As such, there cannot be any water pollution now. Moreover, the company uses sea water only for the purpose of cooling the towers, and as such, no effluents get discharged from UPCL into the sea. As the power plant is not functional now, no water is being released into the sea at present,” he clarified.
In the meanwhile, district deputy commissioner, Dr M T Reju, said that the meeting scheduled to be held at his office at 11 am today to discuss issues relating to UPCL has been postponed for various reasons.