Daijiworld MediaNetwork – Udupi(SM)
Udupi Aug 23: Nagarjuna Virodhi Horata Samithi organized a press meet on Tuesday at the press club to get an explanation from the officials responsible in the government regarding UPCL’s ( Udupi Power Corporation Limited) past, present and future disasters which is faced by the residents and various departments.
Speaking to the media persons here, Working Committee president Vijaya Kumar Hegde said, ”Potentialities and impact of the thermal power plant is the future of the human kind will be in great danger, as UPCL did not provide jobs to more than 300 youth which they promised in the beginning.”
“The 110 year old Britishers- Green Power plant was taken to Shimoga and a second hand machine was placed to us and an everlasting headache plant given to the district was the contribution of Yedyurappa; and the most educated people in Udupi are acting like they are not aware of the situation,” said Hegde.
“There are drinking water problems faced by people across the river Shambhavi through Mulky to the ocean as the fish there contains mercury in its head. Such fish cause cancer, TB, vision loss, asthma and the newborns will be handicapped. By this project, only politicians earned money but the public has to face the consequences. The political party and existing officials are answerable to the public,” he added.
He openly requested for an explanation from MP Jayaprakash Hegde, MLA Lalaji Mendon, district-in-charge Kota Srinivas Poojari, Zilla Panchayath president Katpadi Shankar Poojari, taluk panchayath president Dev Das Hebbar and DC M T Reju.
Politicians involved are Veerappa Moily, Shobha Karandhleje (company illegalities) and Vasudeva Rao (Aviation Department).
The reason to come up with the issue is the new vision of the disaster on Airway, MPRL and harbor. The air crash in Mangalore occured because of UPCL; also, the crash landing which happened at the Mangalore airport a few days back was the impact of UPCL. The samithi had forwarded a letter stating the same, but it was ignored by the aviation department. Now at this juncture, Vasudeva Rao (Aviation Department officer) is answerable whether the UPCL is in any way connected with the crash or not.
As a solution for the same, the samithi had put forward some requirements, that is 600 MP unit (Ghataka) should be shifted to gas.
Exceeding units (Ghataka) should be stopped. The water which meets the ocean should be sterilized. Electricity should be provided at all times. Western Ghat and Shambhavi river should not be touched. Moreover, Rs 200 crore should be deposited in view of the project. If all the above demands are accepted, the samithi will support this project; otherwise they will have to quit from the district.
As another step, the Nagarjuna Virodhi Horata Samithi also organized a massive hunger strike in front of the DC office.
Janardhan Thingalaya, member, Sene, Prashanth from Brahmavar Christian Youth Association, M Husein Kodibengre from Jamaat-E-Islami Youth Wing district unit and others were present at the press meet.