State go ahead with the Chamalapur Power Project: Minister

Mysore, Aug 25 (UNI) Brushing aside opposition from various organisations and political parties, the Karnataka Government will go ahead with the Chamalapur Thermal Power project at Chamalapur village in the district, Co-operative minister Mr G T Deve Gowda announced today.

Talaking to newsmen here, he said the State Government had taken a decision to set up three thermal based power project at Chamalapur, Jewargi and Ghataprabha to meet the power projects at Chamalapur, Jewargi and Ghataprabha to meet power crisis in the State.

He clarified that it would be taken up only after getting clearance from the Union Environment Ministry.

Referring to stiff opposition for the project from the villagers, Mr Gowda sought to clarify that all precautions have been taken to stem the adverse impact on environment. ''New and state-of-the-art technology would be used in the proposed thermal project to minimise the harmful effect to environment'' he said.

The project also helps to solve unemployment problem in the district while it helps to boost the economic activities, he said.

Referring reports of police excesses on peaceful agitators against the project recently, the Minister said he had sought a report from the police department and necessary action would be taken against the quilty officers.

Meanwhile, the bandh call given by various organisations and parties against the Chamalapur project evinced good response.

Farmers also took out a silent procession in the town against the police ''high-handedness'' on the peaceful agitators.

UNI