Expansion of UPCL thermal plant opposed.

Vijay Kumar Hegde, president, UPCL Virodhi Horata Samiti, said recently that the Samiti was opposed to the expansion of the coal-based thermal project of Udupi Power Corporation Ltd. (UPCL), located at Yellur in Udupi district from the present 1,200 MW to 2,800 MW.

Addressing presspersons here, Mr. Hegde said that the existing 1,200 MW thermal project had caused the destruction of agricultural and horticultural crops and the contamination of wells in the area. Despite several requests by the Samiti, the authorities were not ready to hold a public hearing in any village near the power project as they feared facing the wrath of the villagers. The public hearing would be held at Paniyur village on November 10. He said that when the existing problems had not been solved by the authorities, it was surprising they were going ahead with the plans of expansion.

When a Samiti delegation met the Deputy Commissioner three days ago to voice their objections and draw attention to their problems, the latter responded by asking them whether they wanted electricity.

Mr. Hegde said that while no one was opposed to development, the problems of the people had to be addressed. Already, the Nandikur Janajagriti Samiti was fighting cases against the UPCL in the Supreme Court.

The public hearings before the establishment of the 1,200 MW plant too had not been held in a transparent manner, he held.

THE HINDU