HC stays acquisition of land by NPCL

Udupi, Aug 20 (UNI) Nandikur Jana Jagrithi Samithi (NJJS) Hon. President Balakrishna Shetty said Karnataka High Court issued a stay order today on the notification issued by the Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB) under section 28 (1) and 28 (4) for acquisition of 486 acres of land in Santhoor in Udupi taluk for fly ash dumping yard by the Nagarjuna Power Company Limited (NPCL) for its proposed 1015 MW coal based thermal power project near Nandikur in Udupi district.

Talking to newspersons here, he said the locals of Santhoor have challenged the notification by the KIADB in the High Court based on the order issued by the Union ministry for Environment and Forest on September 14, 1999 that from nine years from the date of issue of government order, the dumping of fly ash in the ponds should be faced out.

Mr Reddy said the proposed thermal power project by the NPCL was expected to only complete its project during 2010-11 and no question would arise on acquiring land for ash ponds. The court had issued stay orders to both the state government and the KIADB, prohibiting any activities on the entire 486 acres of land in Santhoor, he added.

He alleged that the KIADB had notified a total 2630 acres of land for the 'development of industries' without specifying genuine purpose or reason and harassing the locals on the contrary to the requirement of only 630 acres by NPCL.

He said two more important petitions have been filed before the High Court- one petition by Yalloor Gram Panchayat against the NPCL for proceeding with the work without the license by the Panchayat which was expected to come before the court for hearing tomorrow. Another petition was filed by all surrounding temples of the project, he added.

Replying a question, Mr Shetty said besides several individual petitions, there were three main public interest litigations (PIL) and four sets of petitions by 12 member group, pending before the High court against the NPCL project.

Mr Shetty announced that if the verdict by the High Court was not in their favour, the Samithi would move the Supreme Court seeking justice.

UNI