From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bangalore, Mar 23: Karnataka has urged the Union Environment Ministry to order a fresh environment assessment survey for granting permission for setting up a 200 MW hydro power project at Gundya.
The Karnataka Power Corporation Ltd (KPCL) has proposed to set up a 200-MW power project at Gundya on the borders of Dakshina Kannada and Hassan districts.

Energy Shobha Karandlaje said a delegation led by Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa had met Union Minister of State for Environment Jairam Ramesh and demanded to grant environment clearance for the project.

The project was proposed on 160 hectares of forest area in the Western Ghat and environment groups have objected to the comprehensive environmental impact assessment and management plan, prepared by a Bangalore-based institute, for setting up the hydro-electric plant at Gundya.

The delegation told Ramesh that the area covered by the project would be reduced to 80 hectares to lessen the impact on environment, the minister said.

Shobha said the Centre responded positively to the request made by the State government and expected obtain environment clearance to the project.

The Minister also urged the Centre to grant necessary clearances for the much-awaited pit-head thermal power plant being set up by Karnataka in Chhattisgarh, the first such venture being undertaken by any state government outside its boundaries.

The Centre had not given environmental clearance due to the delay in coal allotment by the Ministry of Coal.

She said there was no shortage of power in the State and the supply was 164 million units against the demand for 169 million units.

The load-shedding is being imposed only to set right technical snags or repairs in power plants, she explained.

Shobha blamed the Union Government for delaying the allotment of coal to thermal plants proposed to be set up in the State. The Centre had only been giving assurances and taken no steps to allot coal.
During the two-day visit to the national capital along with the Chief Minister, Shobha said she had requested the Union Minister of Coal to expedite the allotment of coal to the State.