Moodbidri: Locals express strong opposition to proposed Niddodi power plant
Pics: Hemanath Padubidri
Daijiworld Media Network – Moodbidri (VM)
Moodbidri, Feb 27: The members of Matrubhoomi Samrakshana Horata Samiti along with the residents of the area on Tuesday February 26 expressed their opposition to the proposed ultra mega power plant (UMPP) at Niddodi.
It is said that the appeal of chief minister Jagadish Shetter to the central power ministry about the setting up a power plant in the area came to the attention of the residents only through the media. The proposed plant can produce 4000 mega watt of power, which is three times more than the UPCL unit and has equal effect on the environment.
Problem to Moodbidri
Once the power plant is set up, areas like Niddodi, Tenkamijaru, Badaga Mijaru, Mucchur will face problems and it will also affect other areas like Puttige, Kallamundkur, Kateel, Kinnigoli, Yedapadav and others, said the protestors. Now people are scared about Moodbidri losing its importance, they added.
As per the information obtained, earlier too the Horata Samiti and the residents did not allow a company to be set up there, which was passed under Suvarna corridor project in 2011 by the then chief minister Yeddyurappa. Now the Samiti is gearing up to oppose another mega project to preserve the environment.
Opposition by MLA Abhyachandra Jain
"I came to know about this mega project in the area after reading about it in newspapers," said MLA Abhayachandra Jain. Speaking to media, he condemned the project and assured his support to the residents in their fight. Meeting the Horata Samiti members on Tuesday morning, he said this project was also supported by the land mafia and that it would be harmful to this area.
The locals told the MLA that Rama Suvarna of Niddodi has bagged district progressive farmer award twice and the area has only 10 % of barren land. "If we give away this land, what will happen to us," they said.
Agricultural families of Niddodi Bava Dinakar Shetty, former president of SKDRDP, Venkatesh Bhat, Arun Bhat, Madhava Gowda, Valerian Correa, Gangadar Gowda, Janardhan, panchayat member Sanjeeva Poojary, Mohan Salian, Bhaskar Khana, Nithin and others had an interaction with the MLA during his visit to the area.
Appeal to chief minister
Residents of the area under the banner of Matrubhoomi Samrakshana Horata Samiti urged the state government to drop this mega power plant project and in this regard a memorandum was submitted through the tahsildar.
Water concerns
"To produce one mega watt power, the plant needs 800 litres of water, then what might be the quantity of water needed to produce 4000 mega watt power? If the plant is depended on sea water then what about the pipeline connected to the sea, what might be the effect on environment? Where will the company let out the waste water, and ash?" said Bhaskar Devasya, an entrepreneur, "We will not allow the government to set up the plant at any cost."
Janajagruthi Samiti opposes power plant
In a press release, the Janajagruthi Samiti stated that for two years a part of the DK district near Mangalore was in the list of critically polluted clusters of India, as assessed by the Central Pollution Control Board, and it was cleared from the list during 2011-2012.
"In the event of this project coming up at Niddodi, the total burning of coal in the coast will be well over 55,000 tons a day, with more than 10,000 tons of as generated on a daily basis along with 30 kg of lethal mercury and various other carcinogenic pollutants," the release stated.
The Samiti also alleged that the state government in 1999 had secretly withdrawn the notification for conducting the carrying capacity study specifically to provide free passage for setting up of UPCL at Udupi, which has adversely affected agriculture in the region.
The Samiti demanded withdrawal of the proposed power plant and also shifting of UPCL closer to Bangalore, which the Samiti claimed is the major beneficiary of the power generated by UPCL.