Local people determined to permanently shut down UPCL

Local people determined to permanently shut down UPCL

Mangaloretoday News Network

Udupi, March 22: Kodihalli Chandrashekar, the president of the Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS), said that the UPCL coal-based thermal project should be permanently closed it is quite obvious that the project will destroy crops and vegetation and the health of all the people living in the vicinity. He was addressing the people living in villages surrounding the UPCL power plant at the St. Francis Church Yard on Sunday evening.

Further speaking about the matter, he said that UPCL has been forced on Udupi by former PM H. D. Deve Gowda to destroy the people living there. Criticizing V. S. Acharya, he said that Acharya, who had fought against power projects just 10 years back, is now a staunch advocate of UPCL and does not care about the plight of the people.

Stating that the land and environment belong to the people living in Udupi, he said that they won’t keep quiet if anybody ruins it and added that the ultimate aim of the people of Udupi is to permanently shut down UPCL.

Stating that the farmers have responded to KRRS’s call in a positive manner, he informed that more than 10,000 people have enrolled in KRRS units in villages such as Padabettu, Padubidri, Yermal, and Palimar and that more units will be set up at Mundkur, Inna, Kaup, Belmon, and other places.

Pejawar Seer on fast

Shri Vishvesha Teertha Swamiji, the Seer of Udupi Pejawar Mutt, who is currently in Bangalore, began his nirjala nithyopavasa on March 19.

The seer has issued a press release in which he has stated that his fast is not against the state government, but against UPCL and in support of the villagers who are suffering from all sorts of problems owing to the fly ash and other effluents released by UPCL.

He further stated that State Higher Education Minister Dr. V. S. Acharya has conveyed CM B. S. Yeddyurappa’s message that the government is doing everything within its power to resolve the issue and that the power plant cannot be closed because of power shortage in Karnataka. The seer stated that the company cannot endanger the lives of people living in the vicinity and also the environment, adding that the company should be shut down temporarily if it cannot deal with the fly ash and effluents it emits in a safe manner. The swamiji suggested that the power plant should be either closed or set up elsewhere or that another way to produce power should be considered.

Assuring his devotees and the general public that they should not worry about his health and that he is performing religious rituals, pravachanas, and daily meetings as usual, he said that he is optimistic that everything will turn out well in the end.

Pejawar Mutt sources say that the Seer takes only one meal in the afternoon and does not take fruit, milk, or even water during the fast.

Eshwarappa concerned

K. S. Eshwarappa, the state president of the BJP, told reporters that he is worried about the health of the Pejawar seer and expressed his intentions of meeting him in Bangalore to discuss the UPCL issue. He said that he will try to resolve the issue by working with the chief minister, the seer, and the state government.

Power plant will not be closed - Acharya
Dr. V. S. Acharya, the district-in-charge minister, told reporters that the UPCL power plant cannot be closed because the entire state is facing shortage of power. Urging people to banish the idea that coal-based thermal power projects are dangerous to life and the environment, he said that even developed countries are establishing coal-based thermal plants. He also said that he had assured the seer that everything will be done to solve the pollution problems in the vicinity of the UPCL plant.