LSA opposes environmental clearance to Tata Power project

Bhubaneswar,Mar 05 (UNI) Lok Shakti Abhijan(LSA) President Prafulla Samantra today urged the Orissa State Pollution Control Board(OSPCB) to reject the environmental clearance to the Tata's 1000 MW Coal based thermal power plant at Naraj.

In a petition filed before the member Secretary OPSCB, Mr Samantra said population in two major cities--Cuttack and Bhubaneswar coming under the impact zone of the proposed thermal power plant--would face serious health hazards and water scarcity affecting agriculture to a great extent.

He told newsmen here that while the Cuttack city was within the 7 kms aerial distance of the project site,the state capital is located within 12 kms aerial distance.Similarly,the Nandankanan Zoo and the Chandka Elephant Sanctuary are situated just within 3 kms radius of the proposed thermal plant site.

Mr Samantra alleged that withdrawal of huge water from the Naraj barrage by the power project would lead to water scarcity as the barrage played a crucial role in supplying drinking water to Cuttack and Bhubaneswar city.

This apart lakhs of farmers in Cuttack and Jagatsinghpur would be deprived of water for irrigation purposes once the power plant starts drawing water from the barrage.

He further said the disposal of water from the power project will not only pollute the water but severely impact health of the people. The thermal project being located on either side of the Puri Main Canal, would also affect the quantity and quality of the water of the canal.

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