Ground water used for constn., by Nagarjuna project against rules
Udupi, Karnataka, Oct 22 (UNI) The Nagarjuna Virodhi Horata Samithi (NVHS), which is waging war against the coal based thermal power project in the undivided Daxina Kannada District, today alleged that the Nagarjuna Thermal Power Project promoted by Lanco at Yellur was using ground water for its construction activities by digging over 60 bore wells and open wells in violation of rules.
Addressing press conference Samithi Executive Committee President Vijaykumar Hegde, said that according to conditions laid down, mega project was prohibited from using ground water and should go for alternative arrangements. But the company had fully violated this norm and using the ground water for its construction activities which would cause great damage of drying up of ground water in two months time in an estimated area of 10 to 15 kms, he added.
He also expressed his deep apprehension that there would be a possible danger of landslide in the surrounding area to the extent of 5 to 10 kms radius of the proposed plant due to the impact of storage of huge quantity of coal required by the plant and movement of heavy machineries required by the plant. No proper study had been made regarding the quality of the soil, he added.
Referring to recent report of alleged assault on the Hyderabad based scientists conducting survey on the sea on tsunami near Ermal Bada near Padubidre, Mr Hegde alleged that the survey was not for any tsunami study but actually for construction of a port near Padubidre for the transportation of imported coal. Any such tsunami survey normally would not be carried out on a boat as done in the recent case, but it would be conducted through satellite covering wide area. The scientists have not even informed the nearest police station before conducting any such survey, he said.
He said that the besides demanding for a CBI inquiry into all atrocities by the police and the company on the villagers and the supporters of the Samithi, it would also approach the Supreme Court in this regard.
He said that the Samithi would take up door to door campaign against the plant by visiting all villages in the undivided district. The Samithi had also proposed to print 25 lakh hand bills and use LCD projectors for awakening the villagers besides holding emergency meetings of the villagers of Nandikur, Yellur, Palimar, Padubidre, Mudarangady, Hejamady and Ermal (all in Udupi District) which are the worst affecting areas by the project, he added.
UNI