Daijiworld Media Network—Udupi (RD/CN)
 
Udupi, Jul 23: Janjagruti Samiti, which spearheaded the movement against Udupi Power Corporation Limited (UPCL), has demanded that the state administration release compensation for the peasants residing within a 10 km radius of the power plant and whose farmlands were submerged in pollutants from ash-mound owing to incessant rains that have lashed the district over the past few days.
 
“The state administration should take action in this regard soon.  About 850 acres of farmland has been submerged in polluted water in Padubidri.  Several farmers have suffered huge losses,” said Samiti president Balakrishna Shetty.
 
“The farmers’ loss is not temporary.  It is long-lasting and irreversible,” he added.
 
The Samiti also urged the state to conduct a survey to ascertain the loss incurred due to recent floods.  Balakrishna Shetty has also written a letter to chief secretary S V Ranganath on the issue.
 
“The fertility of thousands of hectares of agricultural land has deteriorated due to polluted water inundating the farmlands.  Farmers are likely to reap just 20 percent of the harvest in this farming season.  This will have an adverse effects on the peasants who are likely to abandon their age-old tradition of farming”, said Shetty.