Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (SP)
Udupi, Mar 16: Sri Visweshateertha Swamiji of Pejavar Mutt here has decided to consume food only in the afternoon every day, and to do away with any other food intake, including water and milk. This decision was taken by him in protest against the sufferings of the people because of the environment pollution created by Udupi Power Corporation Ltd (UPCL), and announced that he will continue to follow the above regimen till the people are relieved from the problems created to them by UPCL.
He was replying to questions posed to him by the journalists about the possibility of finding a lasting solution to the imbroglio, after he presided over a programme of interaction between the officials of UPCL, environmentalists, and journalists, on Tuesday March 15 at Srikrishna Balaniketan in Kukkikatte here. “This is a passive protest. This is not aimed at anybody. However, this form of protest will continue till the locals tell me that their problems are over. Wednesday being Ekadasi day, I will not consume any food. On Dwadashi, the next, food is consumed early in the day. As such, my protest will officially begin on Saturday,” he announced.
At the outset, senior officer of the UPCL plant, Ravindran, claimed that the plant is equipped with the most modern chimney system, and fly ash pond. He also narrated that all kinds of licences and permissions from the government have been obtained, and that an agreement has been entered into with Associated Cement Company to produce bricks out of fly ash. He said that the plant uses imported coal for maximum efficiency and minimum pollution.
Environmentalist, Dr N A Madhyastha, said that the spot where the plant has come up, is not suitable for setting up of thermal power plant, as the Western Ghats located nearby are highly eco-sensitive. He noted that the area will suffer from the accumulation of sulphur and mercury in course of time, and will suffer from green house affect. He noted that the UPCL had cut down trees in an area of 300 acres of land. Alternatively, he suggested that the district be declared as industrial district, and shift all the people from the district elsewhere. Environmentalist, Dr Ashok Kundapur and Dr Ramachandrappa too supported these views.
Ravindran said that everyone wants more power, and that demand for increased power is put forth by the people, and that the power generated by his company is not used by the company, but by the people. The journalists grilled him about not conducting public meeting to receive objections from the people before setting up of the plant, authenticity of his claim about obtaining all licences, and about the fact that the company had been served notice by Karnataka Pollution Control Board, which means it has committed mistakes.
When Ravindran stated at one stage that UPCL is a public property and that it cannot be closed down, the people present resented his statement. As the stalemate between the two sides continued, the Swamiji said he will undertake partial fast for the present, as it will not harm his life, or disturb his itineraries and travel programmes. He also announced that he would visit the spot by cancelling all engagements on Wednesday March 16 to assess the situation.
Kishore Alva, a company official, claimed that the fly ash problem has since been addressed by pumping water into the ash pond. He expressed confidence of being able to convince the Swamiji not to undertake fast as proposed.