Environmentalists urge Centre to drop power project at Tadadi

Sirsi, Mar 15 (UNI) The Union Government should drop its proposal to set up a 4,000 MW ultra mega thermal power project at Tadadi, near Kumta in Uttar Kannada district of Karnataka as it was a sensitive ecological region in the Western Ghats, according to environmental experts.

In a detailed study report on the project, released by Sonda Swarnavalli Pontiff Sri Gangadharendra Saraswati Swami here today, the experts said the region had got several types of flora and fauna and was considered the ''cradle of breeding centre for marine biolife,'' Setting up of any mega-power project in the area would affect it badly, they added.

Besides, over 15,000 families of fishermen eked out a livelihood by catching rare types of fish such as Kurude, Bangu, Ramasi, Kandi, Salaka, Bilisetli, Balache and Kalaga from the river Aghanashini, they said.

They also said the region had more than 8000 acres of 'gazani' land and about 25,000 families were engaged in farming along side river Aghanashini. Paddy grown in the region had been recognised as one of the rare types, they informed.

The experts further said 'Kandla,' a variety of tree, contributed a lot to maintaining ecological balance in the region. Besides thousands of families were engaged in manufacturing salt at Sanekatta, near Tadadi.

Considering all these environmental facts, the Karnataka Environmental Report 2003 had recognised this region as one of the ''hotspots'' of Western Ghats, they pointed out and added that even the National Biodiversity Action Plan Report 2002 had declared Tadadi as the ''Paradise of Natural Resources.'' The report was prepared by environmental experts including former State Environment Secretary A N Yallappa Reddy, Prof Keshav Kurse and Dr Madhav Gadgil of the Indian Institute of Science (Bangalore) and Prof Subhashchandran.

UNI XR RG SHB KN1818