Panchayat warns against construction of 1050 MW thermal power plant

Padubidre, Karnataka, Apr 8 (UNI) The Yellooru Gram Panchayat President and few members led by Udupi Member of Parliament Manorama Madhwaraj today served a notice on Udupi Power Corporation Limited (earlier known as Nagarjuna Power Corporation Limited) to stop 'unauthorised' construction activities.

Serving the notice against the proposed 1050 MW coal based thermal power project near here, warned that "if the company failed to stop and demolish all the constructed structures within 20 days, the Panchayat, with the support of the other surrounding Gram Panchayats and the public, would take up direct action of demolition.

The Yellooru Gram Panchayat President Vasanthi and Ms Madhwaraj, who met the official of the company at the project site, charged that the company had failed to reply to its earlier notices served.

The construction being carried out was without obtaining licenses and plan sanctioned from the Panchayat. The claims made by the company the concurrence of the Gram Panchayat for the building plan was 'totally false', they said.

Ms Vasanthi said that the company's statement that the issuance of notices by the Panchayat to the company had lowered the esteem of State and Central government was 'illegal and is one without any basis'. The panchayat with the support of other ten surrounding the project site and the public would take up direct action of demolishing the structures if company failed to stop all ongoing construction activities and demolish all unauthorized structures in the project site.

Meanwhile, the officials of the company who maintained that they have replied to the notice dated March 25, 2008, copies of which was made available to the visiting media men countered that the company had taken the concurrence of the Gram Panchayat for the building plans, +although in law, the company was not required to do so.

In the reply to the notice, signed by the General Manager (Project) KK Aravindakshan addressed to the President of Yellooru Gram Panchayat charged that the conduct of the Panchayat was 'illegal and lowering in the esteem of State and central governments. The company was not adopting any personal laws of its own and acting in accordance with the laws of the land. The gram panchayat had to explain its conduct to the villagers.

The reply also cautioned it would be in the fitness of things for your Gram panchayat to await the decision of the Karnataka High Court on the two writ petitions pending before the court. If any action is taken to precipitate the matter, the same would be resisted in accordance with law, cautioned in the reply to the panchayat. Your gram panchayat which is an authority under Article 12 of the constitution of India cannot hold out threats as held out in your notice. The action of gram panchayat if causes any danger to person and property, then your panchayat would be responsible for the consequences.

UNI MA MSP HVB1949