Local organizations go on protest fast against UPCL

Local organizations go on protest fast against UPCL

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Aug 28, 2012 : The UPCL Virodhi Horata Samithi organized a one-day protest fast in front of the DC’s office on August 27, Monday, demanding that the government must take action against UPCL for damage caused to the environment because of its 600MW first unit.

President Vijaykumar Hegde told reporters today that the first unit, which is a coal-based thermal power plant, must be converted into a gas-based unit to prevent further environmental damage. Demanding that the government must not approve the second unit, he said that adequate compensation must be paid to all 900 families affected by the plant.

Further, he said that the government must call a meeting of political parties, organizations, and affected families to find a solution to the problems caused by the first unit of the UPCL by September 10. He warned that the samithi and many other organizations in the twin districts will launch an indefinite bundh if the government fails to take action.

Speaking about the problems caused by the first unit, he said that the power plant has affected 9 villages in the vicinity. The government had not arranged the mandatory public hearing before setting up the first plant and had not even conducted a study of the carrying capacity of the coastal districts before permitting this mega project. The government even stands guilty of ignoring the pleas of the local people, as a result of which the UPCL was set up. Because of the damage to the environment, there has been a shortage of coconuts, arecanuts, jasmine, and banana in the district. The power plant has affected agricultural activities on nearly 35,000 acres of land, he added.

Speaking of the problems caused by the plant to the fishing community, he said that fishermen have been affected because of the harmful effluents released by the plant into the sea. Moreover, people are suffering from various skin and other ailments because of the environmental pollution caused by this plant, which has not even generated the jobs it promised it would. He pointed out that the government had promised not to approve the second unit till all the problems caused by the first unit were solved.

Mr. Hegde also said that a team of experts appointed under the insistence of Vishwesha Teertha Swamiji of Pejawar Mutt had mentioned in their report that the first unit of the UPCL is creating a number of environmental problems, but the government appears to have ignored the report.

Members of the working committee of the Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS), Janajagrithi Samithi President Shashidhar Shetty, Traditional Boat Fishermen’s Association President Janardhan Thingalaya, Mogaveera Mahajana Sangha President Keshav Kundar, Jamaath-e-Islami Hind President Hussain Kodibengre, and Bharathiya Christa Okkootta President Prashanth also took part in this fast.

The protest fast also had the support of Vishwesha Teertha Swamiji of Pejawar Mutt, who said that the government ought not to approve the second unit without first solving all the problems caused by the first unit of the UPCL. He demanded that the state government must implement pollution-control measures as suggested by T. V. Ramachandra and Y. B. Ramakrishna, the two experts he had appointed to study the UPCL problem.