"Do not let even an inch of land for proposed Niddodi thermal project”

Mangalore Today News Network

Moodbidri, March 4, 2013: Vijaykumar Hegde, President of the Anti-UPCL Action Committee has urged the people not to let even an inch of land for any thermal power project in the region.

He was addressing a massive protest meet organized at the Niddodi Shuntilapadavu Bapooji Higher primary School premises on March 3, Sunday under the aegis of the Save Karavali Movement Committee, opposing the proposed Ultra Mega Thermal Power Project at Niddodi.

niddod 1

Continuing, Hegde said while there have been instances in the past of people being forced to sell their lands at throw away prices for mega projects, he urged people not to sacrifice their lands for the Niddodi project at any cost. “It’s not just you who will suffer, but also people in the surrounding villages,” he warned.

Pointing out that the district already had many mega projects which have disturbed the sensitive ecology of the region, he said any more projects are sure to strike a death knell on the district.

Giving one instance about the magnitude of pollution which the proposed plant may cause, he questioned how many lorry loads of coal may have to be burnt to general 4000 mw of power, when the UPCL was using 1400 lorry loads of coal every day.

MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, who also spoke said he was committed to his stand against such mega projects. At the same time, he said neither he nor the MLAs can be blamed if people themselves sell their land.

Local MLA Abhayachandra said he has already requested senior Congress leader Oscar Fernandes and Veerappa Moily against the setting up of the projects.

Subhashchandra Padival, President of Dailabettu Kshetra Management Board and the man who donned the role of Koti in the Koti Chennaya film of yesteryears, was choked with emotions when he said Kallamundkur and Niddodi were like his two years. I have seen four Brahmakalashas in the historic Dailabettu Kshetra. Probably, this might be the last one,” he said with tears in eyes.

Joachim Koreya, President of Kallamundkur GP, presided over the function. Rohitaksha Rai, District President of Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha, ZP member Janardhan Gowda, APMC Director, Jacintha, Bhuvanabhirama Udupa of Yuga Purusha and others were present.

Over 500 villagers including women from Tenka Mijar, Badaga Mijar, Puttige and other villagers attended the meeting. It was decided that the movement would continue by taking into confidence all those who were even involved in the anti-UPCL agitation.

Write Comment | E-Mail | Facebook | Twitter | Print

Write your Comments on this Article
Your Name
Native Place / Place of Residence
Your E-mail
Your Comment	You have characters left.
Security Validation
Enter the characters in the image above