Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Apr 13: The officials of Karnataka Environment Control Board paid an unexpected visit to the thermal power plant of Udupi Power Corporation Ltd (UPCL) at Yellur on Tuesday April 12, and conducted inspection. The team, comprising of the board officials, Ravichandra and Bhaskar, had come to the village on a request made by Nandikoor Janajaruti Samiti.

The team collected samples of saline water and effluents being discharged continuously from the power plant. It directed deputy general manager of the company, Parashuram, and assistant general manager, Srinivas Reddy, who were present during the team’s visit, to stop releasing contaminated water outside its plant with immediate effect.

The team also visited a number of houses in Kolalchur and Saje within Yellur gram panchayat, and collected samples of well water. It also observed damages suffered to jasmine, coconut, areca nut, and banana cultivation, apart from the adverse affect the saline water released from the cooling tower of the plant on tin sheds built in front of houses. During the visit by the team, the locals also expressed their apprehension about the damage being caused by the saline water that gets ejected from the cooling tower, to the high tension lines and Mescom lines.

Assistant environment officer, Ravichandra, said that the team will send a report on its observations, along with a report on the samples collected, to the government within a week. Nandikoor Janajaruti Samiti secretary, Jayant Kumar Bhat, Nagesh Rao, and others were present.