K'taka to go ahead with controversial power project in Udupi

Bangalore, June 29 (UNI) The Karnataka Government has decided to go ahead with the proposed Nagarjuna Thermal Power project in Udupi district keeping in mind the demand for power in the state, Public Works Department and Power Minister H D Revanna informed the Legislative Council today.

To a question raised by Mr Pratap Chandra Shetty (Congress) on the issue, he said the government was trying to convince environmentalists and activists in the region about the need for implementing the project.

Stating that the project would aid the economic growth of the state, he said the estimated demand for power in the state would be 6280 MW by 2012 and there was a need to add another 4280 MW to meet it.

Taking into consideration industrial and agricultural requirements, besides the state's development, the government had decided to go ahead with the project, Mr Revanna said, adding that there was no question shelving it.

Mr Shetty said the people of Udupi district were against the project as they fear that it would cause immense damage to the ecology. The fly ash generated from the plant would not only affect evergreen forests in the Western Ghats, but also reduce fish catch in the Arabian sea, thereby affecting the fishing community.

He appealed to the state government to review its decision on the issue.

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