Farmers to intensify agitation on Chamalapura power plant

Mysore, Aug 24 (UNI) Former Karnataka Minister M Shivanna today said the agitation will be intensified against the proposed Rs 5500 crore Chamalapura Thermal Power Plant in the District.

Strongly condemning the lathicharge by police on the agitators recently, he said more than 20,000 farmers would assemble at Chamalapura and hold a rally against the proposed project.

Talking to newspersons here, Mr Shivaram alleged that ''the government was trying to instill fear among the innocent farmers when police resorted to lathicharge during the 'rasta-roko' for protesting against Chamalapura thermal power plant two days ago, though the agitation was peaceful and did not cause damage to the public property. Permission was sought to hold rasta-roko for ten minutes, but the police refused to grant permission, he added.

In a separate press conference, KRRS President K S Puttaniah termed the proposed protest as a 'deal project and percentage project' for the government to amass money for the next election expenditure.

Mr Puttaniah also called upon the organisations and political partaies to oppose the project together. ''There was a need for united fight against the project which would destroy the envirnamental hazards of the Mysore city and its citizens'', he added.

He said the KRRS would intensify the agitation to stop the project. Popular Kannada film actor Vishnuvardhan had extended his support for the agitation, he added.

UNI