Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (SP)
Udupi, Mar 22: Several agricultural fields in Yermal Bada and Yermal Tenka villages near Padubidri were inundated in saline water because of the unscientific joining of the pipes that carry sea water to the thermal power plant of Udupi Power Corporation Ltd (erstwhile Nagarjuna) that is being run experimentally as of now.
Sea water is being pumped to the plant for being put to use after purification. After the salty water entered the fields, the water of a few wells in the area also turned saline, posing drinking water problems for the people. The villagers said that during the execution stage itself, they had warned the contractors concerned that the pipes might give way under the force of the water.
When some journalists brought this development to the notice of the state home minister, Dr V S Acharya, during his visit to Ellur villageon Sunday, he said he was unaware of the incident and that he would immediately instruct the concerned to initiate corrective measures.