JD(U) asks K'taka Govt to shelve Chamalapura Project

Bangalore, Sep 7 (UNI) Janata Dal (United) Karnataka President B Somasekhar today urged the state government to shelve the proposed Chamalapura Thermal Power Project at Chamalapur in Mysore District as it would cause pollution besides displacing more than 5000 farmers.

Talking to newsmen here, he said the 550 MW project was dropped twice earlier due to impact it would have on the environment and displacement of farmers.

But Power Minister H D Revanna had stated he would go ahead with Rs 5,500 crore project despite protests.

First conceived in 1983, the project was later dropped. Again it was revived in 1993 only to be shelved after widespread protest.

Mr Somasekhar alleged, ''Mr Revanna's firm stand on going ahead with the project leads to many doubts, including his involvement in purchase of coal needed for the project and of old machinery from developed countries who have now given up coal-based power plants as they cause pollution.'' He suggested the government to tap solar energy, bio-fuel and above all curb transmission and distribution losses so that the state could meet the power demand.

Mr Somasekhar said according to reports, agriculture production near Raichur Thermal Plant Area had come down drastically after the plant was established.

He urged the state government to set a ''Technocrat Committee'' to study the feasibility of the proposed Project.

UNI