Writer joins protest against Thermal Power Plant

Mysore, July 9 (UNI) Noted Kannada writer U R Ananthamurthy today joined the protest against the proposed Thermal Power Plant at Chamalapura village near here, as farmers, environmentalists, youths and freedom fighters staged a dharna in the city, demanding the government drop the project.

The dharna was organised by Association of Concerned and Informed Citizens of Mysore (ACICM) led by its convenor M Lakhsman.

The agitators threatened to launch dharna in front of Legislative Assembly Speaker Krishna's residence and in front of houses of legislators, MPs and ministers on July 11, if the government fails to drop the proposal.

They alleged that politicians were falsely assuring the farmers that a compensation of Rs 10 lakh per acre would be paid to them for land acquired.

Mr Murthy said, ''We will not allow the plant to come up come, even if the government takes up the project.'' The villagers would not allow it to materialise, as the power plant would pollute the atmosphere, affecting the fertility of the land and the crops besides health hazards to the people here, he added.

Meanwhile, Minister for PWD and Energy H D Revanna has said that the government would go ahead with the project, since the state was in dire need of power to meet the growing demand from industries. However, the government would take the people into confidence before getting the approval, Mr Revanna added.

UNI