Citizens’ group, KRRS slam V S Acharya

Citizens’ group, KRRS slam V S Acharya

Mangalore Today News Network

Udupi, April 12: The Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS) and the Nandikur Janajagriti Samiti (NJS) have taken exception to the statement of Minister for Higher Education V.S. Acharya supporting the coal-based thermal power project of Udupi Power Corporation Ltd (UPCL).

Sangha’s district unit president Vijaykumar Hegde said that Dr. Acharya’s statement showed his lack of sensitivity to the problems of the people. The pollution caused by fly ash, leak of saline water which destroyed crops on 35,000 acres of agricultural land, water from the ash pond contaminating the wells, and the health problems, especially among children, were well documented.

The vapour formed by saline water and effluents of the thermal plant had destroyed the crops and caused corrosion of iron in a 6-km radius of the plant. Even the electricity cables had rusted.

Dr. Acharya’s remark that his shirt or his face had not become dark during his visit to the thermal plant only showed that he was an elite politician who did not have any concern for ordinary people.

The Minister should read the report of the fact-finding team from the Indian Medical Association, which visited the affected areas on March 27. He should read the three reports on the carrying capacity of the coastal districts by teams set up by the Government.

The sangha had no objection to the professors of the National Institute of Technology – Karnataka (NITK), Surathkal, and the Manipal Institute of Technology (MIT) being in the team of experts to study the conditions in and around the thermal plant. But the inclusion of officials of the Environment Department and the Deputy Commissioner in the team was questionable. The district administration and the Environment Department had done nothing to stop the pollution by the plant.

The government should make public all aspects pertaining to the permission given to the UPCL. There should be a public debate on the thermal plant. “If Dr. Acharya cannot solve the problems caused by the plant, he should quit politics,” Mr. Hegde said.

In another release, samiti general secretary Jayant Kumar termed Dr. Acharya’s remarks as irresponsible. “Dr. Acharya should go around the villages near the thermal plant. Instead, he visited the plant (on March 29) with full security,” he said.

The Minister said that the UPCL could not be locked as it was not a house. “The UPCL is Dr. Acharya’s house. Hence he likes it. He can stay there. But he should not disturb the neighbours. If he does so, we will force him to flee,” Mr. Kumar added.